TotalEnergies announced a new oil discovery in Block 17 off the coast of Angola. The Acacia-5 find was made in June 2026 and the company expects to achieve first production just three months later through an accelerated development.
To achieve this, the company will leverage available capacity on the Pazflor floating production, storage and offloading unit. This strategy will enable the new resource to be brought onstream without developing a standalone production facility from scratch.
According to TotalEnergies, Acacia-5 will add approximately 6,000 barrels per day to Block 17 production. The French company operates this asset with a 38% stake.
Block participants also include Equinor with 22.16%, ExxonMobil with 19%, Azule Energy with 15.84%, and Sonangol E&P with 5%.
Acacia-5 also represents TotalEnergies’ second exploration success in Angola during 2026. The previous one corresponds to the recent discovery made in Block 0 of the Lower Congo basin, where the company holds a 10% stake.
Offshore Oil Drives TotalEnergies’ Expansion in Angola
The French oil company has also strengthened its offshore portfolio through agreements with the Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (ANPG).
The agreements will enable TotalEnergies to join as operator of exploration blocks 17/25 and 32/21 with a 40% stake. Both are located in the Lower Congo basin, one of Angola’s main oil-producing areas.
The new blocks also have 3D seismic coverage and access to different geological targets that can be evaluated during upcoming exploration campaigns.
Their location is a relevant factor for future developments. Blocks 17/25 and 32/21 are located near facilities that TotalEnergies already operates in blocks 17 and 32, where six FPSO units currently produce.
This proximity opens the possibility of connecting future discoveries through subsea developments or tie-backs. In this way, new resources could leverage existing facilities and reduce the need to build standalone infrastructure.
Offshore Infrastructure Accelerates Oil Development
The planned development for Acacia-5 shows how TotalEnergies seeks to use installed capacity off Angola to accelerate the incorporation of new resources.
The connection to the Pazflor FPSO will bring the discovery into production three months after being identified. This model can reduce development timelines and improve the economics of discoveries located near existing production hubs.
TotalEnergies also maintains a significant presence in Angola’s oil sector. The company has operated in the country since 1953 and produced approximately 156,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Angola during 2025.
TotalEnergies’ Exploration Extends to Other Basins
The expansion is not limited to the Lower Congo basin either. In February 2026, TotalEnergies signed a framework agreement with ANPG and ExxonMobil to acquire a 35% stake in exploration blocks 40, 41, 42, and 58 in the Benguela basin.
Should these operations materialize, the company will expand its exposure to different offshore areas while maintaining exploration around infrastructure capable of facilitating future developments as a core focus.
Exploration is a fundamental pillar of our ambition in Angola, supported by the incentives introduced to encourage investment.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, stated.
The executive added that the company intends to continue identifying resources and opportunities in Angola’s offshore basins alongside its partners.
With Acacia-5 and the incorporation of blocks 17/25 and 32/21, TotalEnergies is strengthening its oil exploration and production activity in Angola while relying on subsea connections and existing infrastructure to accelerate future projects.
Source: TotalEnergies
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