bp has confirmed the start-up of gas production from the Quiluma field offshore Angola, marking a major milestone for the New Gas Consortium (NGC) project operated by Azule Energy, a joint venture between bp and Eni.
Initial output from the field is expected to reach 150 million standard cubic feet per day, with production set to increase to 330 million by the end of 2026. The project represents Angola’s first non-associated gas development, with gas extracted from the shallow-water Quiluma field, processed onshore, and exported via the Angola LNG plant.
Azule Energy holds a 37.4% stake in the consortium, alongside Cabinda Gulf Oil Company (31%), Sonangol E&P (19.8%), and TotalEnergies (11.8%), with ANPG acting as national concessionaire.
Gordon Birrell, bp’s executive vice president for production and operations and a member of the Azule board, highlighted the importance of the project, stating that it demonstrates strong collaboration and supports Angola’s ambition to strengthen its energy mix and position in the global gas market.
The NGC project builds on a series of recent achievements for Azule Energy. In 2025, production began at the Agogo field, while the Ndungu development came online in early 2026. The company has also reported multiple hydrocarbon discoveries across Angola and Namibia’s Orange Basin.
For bp, the Quiluma start-up forms part of a broader strategy that saw 12 discoveries and seven major upstream project launches in 2025, several ahead of schedule, reinforcing its goal to deliver 10 major project start-ups worldwide by 2027.
