Africa Oil & Gas: Angola already self-sufficiency in butane gas

oil and gas Mozambique — Angola already self-sufficient in butane gas

Production levels achieved through the Angola LNG project have enabled Angola to currently be self-sufficient in butane gas, an executive of state oil company Sonangol said on Tuesday in Houston, Texas.

Edson dos Santos made the announcement on the sidelines of “CERAweek”, one of the world’s major oil and natural gas conferences, in which Sonangol is taking part with a delegation headed by the Chair of the Board of Directors, Isabel dos Santos.

The director, responsible for the areas of research and production, logistics, distribution, shipping and Sonangol Gas Natural (Sonagás), stressed that the project faced difficulties because of a design issue but added “everything is already settled.”

The resolution of the problems, he said, meant that the Soyo processing unit has been operating continuously since the last quarter of 2016 and that Angola has become self-sufficient with respect to butane gas, “imports of which are expected to cease this year.”

Edson dos Santos, cited by Angolan news agency Angop, said the Angola LNG had made seven natural gas shipments in 2016, and the forecast for this year was 58.

Launched in 2007 to take advantage of the natural gas resulting from oil exploration, the project brings together, in addition to Chevron (36.4%), Angola’s Sonangol (22.8%), BP Exploration (13.6%), Italy’s ENI (13.6%) and France’s Total (13.6%).

It is also one of the largest investments ever made in the Angolan oil industry – US$10 billion – featuring seven tankers and three loading bays and is intended to eliminate the burning of natural gas released as part of oil exploration. (macauhub)