TotalEnergies expands Congo footprint with hydrocarbons discovery

TotalEnergies SE, the French energy giant, has uncovered a new offshore oil and gas accumulation in the Republic of Congo, reinforcing its long-term commitment to West Africa’s deepwater energy corridor.

The discovery, made during drilling on the Moho license, adds momentum to one of the company’s most established offshore hubs near Pointe-Noire. The well intersected a 160-meter column of oil and gas, further extending the field’s resource base.

TotalEnergies already produces roughly 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from the Moho deepwater development, which is supported by two floating production units located about 80 kilometers offshore. The latest find, Moho G, alongside earlier Moho H results, is estimated to hold nearly 100 million barrels of recoverable resources.

Infrastructure-led growth strategy

The company plans to tie the Moho G and Moho F discoveries into existing production infrastructure, a strategy designed to shorten development timelines and reduce capital intensity. The proximity to installed facilities allows for what executives describe as a “fast-cycle, cost-efficient tie-back development model.”

Nicola Mavilla, TotalEnergies’ senior vice president for exploration, said the discovery underscores the advantage of infrastructure-rich basins, where incremental resources can be rapidly commercialized without major standalone investments.

West Africa regains exploration momentum

The find comes as global oil majors re-accelerate exploration across West Africa, driven by the need to offset declining output from mature basins and replenish reserves.

Congo, in particular, has emerged as a steady offshore production hub, supported by partnerships between international operators and state-linked entities, including Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo.

Strategic positioning in energy transition era

Formerly known as Total, the company rebranded to TotalEnergies in 2021 to reflect its diversification into renewables and low-carbon energy. Despite that shift, oil and gas remains central to its cash-flow engine, funding its broader energy transition strategy.

Across Africa, the group continues to balance upstream expansion with longer-term investments in gas and integrated energy systems, including LNG developments and power projects.