Can you introduce Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo and give an overview of your current operations? 

Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) was established in 1998 and is dedicated to developing and efficiently managing the nation’s hydrocarbon resources. We are active in the entire petroleum industry chain, from upstream to downstream, through six proactive subsidiaries: SONAREP which is focused on exploration, exploitation, and production; ILOGS which specializes in logistics; SFP which is responsible for drilling; CORAF, which is a refinery; SNPC Trading, which specializes in the commercialization of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons; and SNPC Distribution which is responsible for trading refined products. We also have the SNPC Foundation which is in charge of our ESG actions, with the focus areas of intervention mainly in health, education, culture, sport, environment, social, infrastructure, and electricity.   

By law SNPC is mandated to have a share of at least 15% of all permits issued in Congo's hydrocarbon industry. As a Group, we employ approximately 1,000 people. 

Can you comment on recent developments in the Congolese oil sector and SNPC’s key ongoing projects? 

In September 2023, SNPC, Eni Congo, and Lukoil signed a long-term contract for the purchase and sale of LNG with Eni SPA, marking an advancement in the LNG Marine XII project. SNPC is aligned with energy transition goals, with our first focus being on natural gas as it is considered the cleanest of all fossil fuels. In partnership with Eni and Lukoil, we are advancing the Congo’s gas export ambitions and have already started exporting LNG with the first ship setting sail from the Marine XII Tango FLNG facility to the Piombino regasification terminal in Italy in February 2024. 

On the upstream side, SNPC is now the operator of three more permits: Le Mayombe II, Kouakouala II and Nanga I.  Studies are ongoing on those permits to start exploration and drilling works as soon as possible. 

In partnership with the Forêt Ressources Management (FRM), SNPC has launched the Eco Zamba reforestation project, which will consist of planting 50,000 hectares of forest in Northern Congo over the next 10 years as part of our implication in the energy transition. The pilot phase, which started in November 2023, saw the planting of 1,125 hectares of various species. In addition to creating jobs and enabling Congo to preserve the environment, the project will also allow for the opportunity to produce and store carbon credits.

What are the biggest challenges facing the Congolese oil sector, and how is SNPC’s ‘Performance 2025’ program addressing these?

The volatility of the global markets, a lack of infrastructure, and the need for modernization of technical capabilities are the main challenges the Congolese oil sector is facing. SNPC’s ‘Performance 2025’ program is a comprehensive strategy designed to address these challenges with a focus on four pillars - increase our revenue through optimizing our activities and production and acquiring new plays both onshore and offshore; cost control and reduction by taking action on all levers and niches allowing the Group to ensure better quality spending; contribution and support to government action, where our mandate is to market the share of crude oil belonging to the state; and better governance and control of activities of the Program. We aim to boost operational efficiency, enhance revenue, modernize infrastructure, and contribute to the state budget by diversifying our activities, promoting innovation, and strengthening partnerships with companies that will help us meet our targets. We are also focused on training human resources to ensure they can be efficient in new technologies and innovations implemented on the ground.

What are SNPC’s main priorities for 2024 and beyond?

SNPC is a major and essential player in the Congolese oil sector and we are focused on exploiting our permits to increase Congo’s capacity and contribute to the country’s export ambitions. We are working hard to meet the targets of our ‘Performance 2025’ program, after which we will set new targets for the way forward.