DRC Orders Oil and Gas Sector Review to Unlock Hydrocarbon Potential

President Félix Tshisekedi has directed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government to conduct a comprehensive review of the country’s oil and gas sector as Kinshasa looks to better understand its hydrocarbon assets and advance new development opportunities.

State Minister for Hydrocarbons Acacia Bandubola Mbongo has been tasked with leading the review, which will assess the country’s oil and gas reserves, existing assets, exploration and production licences, ongoing projects and partnerships. The assessment will also identify constraints affecting exploration, production and processing, as well as examine infrastructure covering transport, storage, refining and marketing. The directive was issued during the 96th meeting of the Council of Ministers on 14 August 2026.

DRC Reassesses Oil and Gas Potential

The review comes as the DRC seeks to expand oil production beyond existing activities concentrated largely in Kongo Central and determine how its hydrocarbon resources can be developed commercially. The government launched a bidding process in 2022 covering 27 oil blocks and three gas blocks. The oil-block tender was cancelled in October 2024 following concerns over irregular or unsuitable bids, delays and insufficient competition. It later indicated that the bidding process would be relaunched, although a new timetable had not been established. The latest assessment could give Kinshasa a clearer picture of the country’s hydrocarbon portfolio and the investment, regulatory changes and infrastructure needed to advance exploration and production.

Lake Albert Becomes Key Area for Uganda Cooperation

The DRC’s interests in Lake Albert are another focus of the review. Geological formations in the basin extend across the DRC-Uganda border, creating an opportunity for the two countries to coordinate development of their respective resources. Tshisekedi has called for a roadmap for cooperation with Uganda that considers the DRC’s economic interests, environmental concerns and the protection of communities.

Uganda is already advancing oil development on its side of Lake Albert through the Tilenga and Kingfisher projects and the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to Tanzania. EACOP reported overall project progress of 91% as of 7 August 2026, while Uganda is targeting commercial oil production in the second half of 2026.

The proposed DRC-Uganda cooperation does not, however, mean that the DRC is part of EACOP or that Kinshasa and Kampala have reached a joint development agreement for Lake Albert. The immediate step is to establish a bilateral roadmap that will define the scope of future cooperation.

DRC and Angola Advance Offshore Cooperation

The DRC is also developing a separate framework with Angola through the Joint Maritime Area of Interest, a shared offshore zone with hydrocarbon potential. The cooperation with Angola is further advanced than the proposed Lake Albert framework. On 22 July 2026, the two countries signed an amendment to the production-sharing agreement for Block 14/23, together with a declaration on implementing the governance agreement for the shared maritime area.

Joint governance structures are being established to oversee operations and a shared account, with economic rights structured on an equal basis between Kinshasa and Luanda. The DRC government is now seeking a detailed progress report on the initiative, including issues relating to the country’s access to deep waters.