TotalEnergies launches Kaminho deepwater project in Kwanza Basin offshore Angola

Energy major TotalEnergies (France) and its partners in Block 20/11 have announced a final investment decision (FID) for the Kaminho project to develop the Cameia and Golfinho fields offshore Angola.

The announcement greenlights the start of the $6bn Kaminho deepwater project, the first large-scale deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin, according to a press statement released by TotalEnergies on May 21.

Block 20/11 is being developed by TotalEnergies as the operator with 40%, Malaysian energy company Petronas with 40% and Angolan national oil company (NOC) Sonangol with 20%.

Located approximately 100km off the coast of Angola in water depths of 1,700 meters, the project features a conversion of a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit, which will be connected to a subsea production network.

Designed to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate routine flaring, this is the seventh FPSO developed by TotalEnergies in Angola. The FPSO is all-electric and associated gas will be fully reinjected into the reservoirs, the energy major said.

According to the statement, production start-up is expected in 2028, with a plateau of 70,000 barrels of oil per day. The Kaminho project will involve over 10 million man-hours in Angola, mainly with offshore operations and construction at local yards.

TotalEnergies and Sonangol have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share expertise on research and technology, notably in decarbonising the oil and gas industry, with a strong focus on reducing methane emissions and renewable energies.

“Building on our pioneering spirit and our long-term partnership with Angola, we are pleased to launch the Kaminho project along with our strategic partners, Sonangol and Petronas, and the strong support and confidence of the Angolan authorities,” said chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanné.

“We look forward to joining forces with Sonangol in technology to promote innovation and low-carbon technologies for the energy industry in Angola, in particular to slash methane emissions and contribute to the diversification of Angola's energy mix.”

Gaspar Martins, CEO of Sonangol, said: “The final investment decision of Kaminho project materializes the commitment and efforts made by the Angolan government, through its Ministry and National Concessionaire, and TotalEnergies, Sonangol and Petronas as partners. They allowed the right conditions to contribute to increasing national production of oil and natural gas, and with that the revenues for the country”.

TotalEnergies has been present in Angola since 1953 and today employs around 1,500 people across different business segments. With a diversified portfolio, deep offshore operated assets representing more than 45% of the country’s oil production, service stations in partnership with Sonangol and renewable energy projects, TotalEnergies in Angola is a key player in supporting the country’s sustainable energy transition.