The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has called off a licensing round for 27 oil blocks initially launched in 2022 to access the country’s oil and gas potential.
This decision was communicated in a statement posted on Monday on the hydrocarbons ministry’s X account. The statement, dated October 11, listed various reasons for the cancellation, including late submissions, inappropriate or irregular offers, and a lack of competition.
Hydrocarbons Minister Aime Sakombi Molendo stated, “Given the above, I am obliged to declare the cancellation of the ongoing process.” He added that the process would be restarted soon but did not provide a specific timeline.
In July 2022, DR Congo announced that it would be offering 27 oil blocks and three gas blocks in the licensing round, which received criticism from environmental groups and some of DR Congo’s Western partners.
Some blocks are located in the world’s second-biggest rainforest, raising concerns that drilling could release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and potentially hinder efforts to address global warming.
DR Congo dismissed the criticisms, arguing that it needed to harness its natural resources for development.
The massive Central African country is a prominent producer of copper, cobalt, gold, and diamonds and has long sought to enhance its oil sector. It is believed to have substantial oil and gas reserves.