The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has cancelled its 2022 licensing round for 27 oil blocks, citing several issues including late submissions, irregular offers, and lack of competition.
The hydrocarbons ministry announced the decision on Oct. 11, with Minister Aime Sakombi Molendo confirming that the process would be relaunched, though no timeline was provided.
The original announcement in 2022 faced criticism from environmental groups due to concerns about potential drilling in the world’s second-largest rainforest, which could exacerbate climate change.
However, Congo defended its need to exploit natural resources for economic development.
Congo, a major producer of copper, cobalt, and diamonds, has long sought to expand its oil sector, though the process has been fraught with controversy. In 2023, a Canadian start-up lacking key financial qualifications was controversially awarded a methane extraction project from a volatile lake.
