Azule Energy, the joint venture between Eni and bp, has announced the Final Investment Decision for the Greater PAJ Project, a major offshore oil development spanning Blocks 31 and 31/21 offshore Angola. Operated by Azule with participation from Sonangol E&P and Equinor, the project marks Angola’s first integrated cross-block development, reflecting a coordinated strategy for exploiting hydrocarbon resources across two adjacent concessions in line with the country’s broader goal of efficient resource management and sustained oil production.
First oil from Greater PAJ is anticipated within three years, specifically in the first half of 2029. The development encompasses five offshore fields: Palas, Astraea, and Juno within Block 31, and Urano and Dione in Block 31/21. The full development plan involves drilling 17 wells, all connected to a new floating production, storage, and offloading vessel with a nameplate capacity of 95,000 barrels of oil per day and gas export capacity of 70 million standard cubic feet per day.
Gas produced from the project will be delivered to the Angola LNG plant via a newly constructed gas export line, tied into the existing Block 31 gas export network. Eni has maintained a presence in Angola since 1980, with current equity production in the country estimated at approximately 115,000 barrels of oil per day; beyond its upstream activities through Azule, Eni Natural Energies is also pursuing a portfolio of decarbonisation projects in the country. The project’s approval marks a major step forward for Angola’s oil and gas sector, reinforcing its position as a key player in the regional energy landscape.
Source: World Oil Online | Eni