Bestselling Angola reform book set for Luanda launch on Sept. 2

NJ Ayuk’s Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola will be launched in Luanda on Sept. 2, bringing a bestseller on Angola’s oil and gas reforms to the country at the center of its story. The event comes as Angola seeks to sustain new investment, higher output and a broader turnaround in its upstream sector.

Why it matters: - The Luanda launch puts Angola’s reform story in front of the industry, policymakers and investors most directly affected by the country’s oil and gas turnaround. - The book frames Angola’s experience as a case study in how regulatory predictability, fiscal terms and institutional reform can pull capital back into upstream development. - Angola’s investment push matters because the country is targeting long-term production growth and up to $70 billion in upstream spending over the next five years.

What happened: - Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola will launch in Luanda on Sept. 2 at the InterContinental Luanda Miramar. - The book is the latest bestseller from African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk. - The launch is designed to convene Angola’s oil and gas sector around the policies, leadership decisions and investments that reshaped the market. - The book was released earlier this year and debuted as a Top Amazon New Release. - A Portuguese edition was released in July to widen access in Angola and across Lusophone markets.

The details: - Crude Oil blends political history, industry analysis and first-hand perspectives from key decision-makers. - The book includes perspectives from Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Minister Diamantino Azevedo, Sonangol Board Chairman Sebastião Gaspar Martins and ANPG Chairman Paulino Jerónimo. - The book traces Angola’s path through production decline, economic pressure and structural change to its current position as one of Africa’s more attractive upstream investment destinations. - Angola created a dedicated upstream regulator, ANPG, and a downstream regulator, IRDP, as part of its reform drive. - Angola also launched a multi-year licensing round targeting 50 concessions by 2025. - The Permanent Offer Regime opened the market further to international capital. - The Incremental Production Decree and Marginal Field program were used to stimulate additional investment. - TotalEnergies, Azule Energy, ExxonMobil and Chevron expanded portfolios through license extensions at legacy assets and new activity in Namibe and Benguela. - Shell and Petrobras returned to Angola’s deepwater basins in 2025. - Onshore drilling and seismic campaigns have been led by independents including Afentra, Corcel, Etu Energias and Oando. - Sonangol strengthened its operator role after restructuring, with projects across onshore and offshore margins. - Begonia and CLOV Phase 3 started production in 2025 and together added 60,000 barrels per day. - The Agogo FPSO was commissioned, supporting the next phase of the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development. - The Kaminho deepwater development is advancing toward a 2028 start.

Between the lines: - The book is as much a policy argument as an industry recap. - Ayuk is presenting Angola’s reforms as evidence that execution matters as much as policy design. - The launch signals confidence that Angola’s turnaround is still unfolding, not finished. - The focus on new production and major offshore projects suggests the next test is whether reform can keep translating into sustained output and capital deployment.

What's next: - The Sept. 2 launch in Luanda will serve as a forum to review Angola’s transformation and discuss the next phase of development. - The country’s near-term outlook will depend on whether exploration, project execution and investment momentum continue. - The book argues that Angola’s ultimate success will be measured by sustained investment, production and economic impact.

The bottom line: - Angola’s oil reform story has moved from policy change to capital return, and the next phase will be judged by whether those gains hold.**