The National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (Anpg) announced that Angola’s concessionaire and TotalEnergies Angola witnessed the commencement of a significant venture in Nantong, China, today. This initiative intends to convert a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) oil tanker into an FPSO, an acronym in English referring to a floating production, storage, and offloading unit.
The statement emphasizes that the FPSO Kaminho will undergo a connection to a subsea network associated with the discoveries in the Cameia and Golfinho fields. The expected output is approximately 70,000 barrels of oil per day, confirming an investment value of about six billion dollars (5.3 billion euros). This was announced on May 20, 2024, with production expected to start in 2028.
The initial phases of the project involve dismantling parts of the structure, which will be carried out by the CMHI (China Merchants Heavy Industry) shipyard under the supervision of the main contractor, Saipem.
Ana Miala, Executive Administrator of Anpg, highlighted the storage capacity of the FPSO Kaminho, which she described as “a modern unit with highly advanced technology components and high standards of quality, health, safety, and environment.”
She further stated that the new unit would enhance “production capacity and consolidate the strategic vision of ensuring the continuity of oil activity in Angola.”
Gaspar Martins, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sonangol, remarked that the project signifies collaboration between state entities and the Block 20/11 partners, expressing hope that “this investment will pave the way for new geographies and attract more investments in this new basin.”
Martin Deffontaines, General Director of TotalEnergies Angola, noted that “the FPSO Kaminho is TotalEnergies’ seventh FPSO in Angola, and this project employs the latest technology to fit the company’s low-emission production portfolio.”
The FPSO Kaminho will be “fully electric, equipped with the most advanced technology to optimize operations, energy consumption, and emissions reduction,” featuring an advanced centralized power generation system, variable speed compressors, and a no-gas flaring system. This contribution effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, with the gas generated by production being reinjected into the reservoirs, according to Anpg’s statement.
Block 20/11 is located in the Kwanza Basin, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Luanda, with water depths ranging from 300 to 2,000 meters. It is operated by TotalEnergies Angola, holding a 40% stake, in partnership with Petronas Angola E&P LTD (40%) and Sonangol Pesquisa e Produção (20%).
