DRC Offers 52 New Oil Blocks to Boost Exploration

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has opened 52 new oil exploration blocks in the Cuvette Centrale sedimentary basin, according to an announcement by Aimé Sakombi Molendo, Minister of Hydrocarbons, DRC, last week. This move completes the division of the basin into exploration blocks, with the process conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment to ensure adherence to protected area boundaries.

The newly designated blocks supplement three previously allocated ones to state-owned COMICO in Mbandaka, Lokoro and Busira.

The Cuvette Centrale region encompasses extensive peatlands and forests, which are among the largest carbon sinks globally.