DRC to Revise Petroleum Code After Failed Oil Tender, Eyes U.S. Partnerships
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is preparing a comprehensive overhaul of its Petroleum Code, with a draft reform expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers within three months before being forwarded to Parliament, according to Hydrocarbons Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo in an interview with Jeune Afrique.
The proposed revision follows the unsuccessful July 28, 2022, tender for 27 oil blocks — a process that fell short due to several key factors: an uncompetitive tax regime, insufficient seismic data, and the inclusion of protected environmental areas within some of the blocks.
In response, the DRC government announced during a Council of Ministers meeting on May 2, 2025, the opening of 52 new oil blocks for exploration in the Central Basin.
Combined with the previously awarded three blocks — Mbandaka, Lokoro, and Busira — to Compagnie Minière Congolaise, the total now stands at 55.
Minister Molendo stressed that these new blocks have been “detoxified,” meaning all protected environmental areas have been excluded, with technical input from the Ministry of the Environment. This adjustment is intended to address concerns raised by environmental NGOs.
However, resistance from civil society remains. The coalition Our Land Without Oil, comprising over 170 environmental organizations, has called for an immediate halt to the exploration process and the cancellation of awarded blocks, citing conflicts with the DRC’s climate commitments.
Minister Molendo responded firmly to the criticism, stating, “The government will no longer back down.” He emphasized that national policy now seeks to strike a balance between oil exploration and the long-term preservation of natural resources for future generations.
As part of the Petroleum Code revision, the DRC plans to update its geological database to give investors a clearer picture of the country’s oil potential.
Seismic operations are scheduled to begin in the coming months to support this effort.
Molendo noted that the reform draws on lessons from neighboring oil-producing nations such as Angola and Congo-Brazzaville, with whom the DRC is now engaged in technical cooperation.
The minister also revealed that the DRC is in advanced talks with American firms specializing in seismic data reprocessing.
He sees this as a strategic step toward attracting major U.S. oil companies to the Congolese energy sector.
“This collaboration is a gateway to future partnerships,” Molendo stated, underscoring the government’s intent to make the sector more transparent, competitive, and appealing to international investors.
