Eni’s CEO Claudio Descalzi and Sonangol’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Carlos Saturnino signed an agreement that assigns operatorship of Cabinda North block to Eni, as well as 48% the block’s rights. The signing took place in Luanda at the presence of the President of the Republic of Angola João Gonçalves Lourenço and the Prime Minister of Italy Paolo Gentiloni.

Cabinda North, of which Eni previously controlled 15%, is an onshore block located in a little explored oil basin in the north of the country, where Eni will be able to leverage the mining knowledge acquired in activities in a neighboring area in the Republic of Congo. In case of significant discoveries, production will be facilitated by existing infrastructure.

In addition, the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to define joint projects throughout the whole value chain of the energy sector. The MoU provides for the assessment of associated and non-associated gas resources in Angola’s offshore, to be traded on both domestic and international markets, and the optimization of exploration activities and identification of new opportunities for joint exploration. Also, it provides for the study of optimization measures in the refining and trading sector in Angola, and the evaluation of opportunities in the sector of renewable energy and, in particular, in photovoltaic.

These agreements expand the scope of Eni's activities in Angola and strengthen its presence in the country, while consolidating the strategic alliance with Sonangol.

Eni has been present in Angola since 1980 through its subsidiary Eni Angola. Equity production amounts to 155,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

About ENI

Eni is an integrated energy company employing more than 34.000 people in 69 countries in the world. Eni engages in oil and natural gas exploration, field development and production, as well as in the supply, trading and shipping of natural gas, LNG, electricity and fuels. Through refineries and chemical plants, Eni processes crude oil and other oil-based feedstock to produce fuels, lubricants and chemical products that are supplied to wholesalers or through retail networks or distributors.

About Sonangol

SONANGOL is a parastatal (a partially state-owned corporation or government agency, cf. national oil company) that oversees petroleum and natural gas production in Angola. The group has many subsidiaries. The subsidiaries generally have Sonangol as a primary client, along with other corporate, commercial and individual clients. Angola is estimated to have over 5 billion barrels of offshore and coastal petroleum reserves, and new discoveries are outpacing consumption by a 5 to 1 ratio.