Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and João Lourenço have directed their governments to accelerate shared oil, fuel-supply and electricity projects intended to support industrial growth.
KINSHASA, August 27, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola have moved to accelerate a package of strategic energy projects that could strengthen petroleum cooperation, improve electricity supply in Grand Katanga and support the wider industrial ambitions of both countries.
Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and João Lourenço agreed during talks in Kinshasa to give fresh political momentum to the joint maritime oil zone, finalize arrangements for SONANGOL to supply the DRC and advance electricity interconnections between the two neighbours.
The commitments place energy at the centre of a broader DRC–Angola partnership covering transport, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and regional trade.
The Presidency of the DRC officially confirmed that the two leaders examined cooperation in the hydrocarbons and electricity sectors during their August 26 meeting at the Cité de l'Union africaine.
Shared oil zone moves closer to implementation
One priority is the Zone maritime d'intérêt commun, or ZIC, established to govern petroleum resources in the maritime area shared by the DRC and Angola.
The two governments have already ratified and published legal instruments governing the zone, created joint management bodies and signed an amendment to the production-sharing contract. ACP reported the signing of that amendment in Luanda on July 22.
Under the existing framework, revenues connected to exploitation—including specified bonuses, taxes and penalties—are expected to be shared equally between the DRC and Angola. The arrangement offers the DRC a route to participate more directly in petroleum activity around the offshore Block 14 area.
Actualite.cd reported that the presidents instructed ministers and technical experts to pursue the remaining work with transparency, balance and mutual benefit.
INFRASTRUCTURE
DRC and Angola Accelerate Joint Oil and Power Projects
Aug 27, 2026
Aug 27, 2026
4 min read
Published
Updated:
Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and João Lourenço have directed their governments to accelerate shared oil, fuel-supply and electricity projects intended to support industrial growth.
KINSHASA, August 27, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola have moved to accelerate a package of strategic energy projects that could strengthen petroleum cooperation, improve electricity supply in Grand Katanga and support the wider industrial ambitions of both countries.
Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and João Lourenço agreed during talks in Kinshasa to give fresh political momentum to the joint maritime oil zone, finalize arrangements for SONANGOL to supply the DRC and advance electricity interconnections between the two neighbours.
The commitments place energy at the centre of a broader DRC–Angola partnership covering transport, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and regional trade.
The Presidency of the DRC officially confirmed that the two leaders examined cooperation in the hydrocarbons and electricity sectors during their August 26 meeting at the Cité de l'Union africaine.
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Shared oil zone moves closer to implementation
One priority is the Zone maritime d'intérêt commun, or ZIC, established to govern petroleum resources in the maritime area shared by the DRC and Angola.
The two governments have already ratified and published legal instruments governing the zone, created joint management bodies and signed an amendment to the production-sharing contract. ACP reported the signing of that amendment in Luanda on July 22.
Under the existing framework, revenues connected to exploitation—including specified bonuses, taxes and penalties—are expected to be shared equally between the DRC and Angola. The arrangement offers the DRC a route to participate more directly in petroleum activity around the offshore Block 14 area.
Actualite.cd reported that the presidents instructed ministers and technical experts to pursue the remaining work with transparency, balance and mutual benefit.
The political direction is significant, but the zone has not yet entered confirmed commercial production. No production-start date, expected output or projected annual revenue for the DRC was announced during the meeting.
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Electricity cooperation targets Grand Katanga
Tshisekedi and Lourenço also agreed to accelerate electricity interconnections already identified between the two countries. The Congolese government wants the projects to support regions requiring more reliable power, with particular attention to Grand Katanga.
Improved supply could help mining operations, processing plants, manufacturers and agricultural businesses whose expansion depends on dependable electricity. It could also reinforce the economic impact of the Dilolo–Sakania railway and the wider Lobito Corridor.
The two presidents attended the signing of the $1.258 billion railway concession during the same visit, underlining the relationship between transport infrastructure and energy availability.
The electricity discussions remain at the acceleration and implementation-planning stage. The governments have not yet published the selected interconnection routes, construction costs, financing structure, additional megawatts or completion schedule.
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SONANGOL supply arrangements also advance
The leaders directed their teams to accelerate the finalization of arrangements for Angola's national oil company, SONANGOL, to supply the DRC. Such cooperation could diversify the country's petroleum-supply channels and strengthen regional energy integration.
ACP's account of the presidential meeting described the discussions as part of a new phase of economic cooperation built around infrastructure and mutually beneficial development.
For the Congolese government, the central objective is to transform geographic proximity and shared resources into electricity, industrial capacity, public revenue and economic opportunities.
The latest presidential commitment provides political momentum; the next test will be turning it into producing oil fields, operating power links and measurable benefits for Congolese citizens.
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