Brazil’s Petrobras Accelerates African Expansion with Nine-Block Côte d’Ivoire Deal
Brazil’s state-controlled Petrobras is making significant strides in its African comeback, securing exclusive negotiation rights for nine offshore oil blocks in Côte d’Ivoire. The development follows recent agreements with Angola and advancing discussions with Nigeria, signaling a comprehensive return to the continent after the company’s exit during the Lava Jato corruption scandal.
The Ivorian government has provided Petrobras with official exclusivity guarantees for the nine blocks, which span shallow-water, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater zones. Four blocks are located in the San Pedro margin, while five cover nearly all of Ivory Coast’s ultra-deepwater territory. The government expects Petrobras to enhance value in the western margin of the national sedimentary basin, which remains underexploited.
Recent high-level diplomatic activity has accelerated Petrobras’ African strategy. A memorandum of understanding with Angola’s Sonangol was signed during President João Lourenço’s state visit to Brazil in May 2025, witnessed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Nigeria is planning similar deals with Petrobras, potentially at the upcoming BRICS summit or COP30 conference.
The Brazilian giant has already returned to African waters through partnerships in São Tomé and Príncipe and South Africa, with exploration drilling scheduled for later this year.
Source: africaoilgasreport.com
