Eni chief executive Claudio Descalzi on Monday met Angola's president Joao Goncalves Lourenco in Luanda to discuss the Italian oil and gas giant's projects to boost the nation's development, Eni said in a statement.
Angola's oil and mineral resources minister Diamantino Azevedo also attended the meeting, Eni said.
In February, Eni began production 5 months ahead of schedule from the East Hub Development Project in Angola’s deep offshore in which it has a 36.84 percent stake, Sonangol Pesquisa and Producao 36.84 percent and SSI Fifteen Ltd, 26.32 percent.
Exploration rights on the block have been extended until 2020, Eni said.
Two other projects, Ochigufu and Vandumbu, are in the execution phase and will be launched in the first half of 2018 and in the second half of 2019 respectively, Eni stated.
These projects, together with a new submarine pumping system that will be launched in the second half of next year will add 54,000 barrels of oil per day to current production levels, said Eni.
Eni is working on initiatives to monetize the gas resources already discovered in Angola in order to support the domestic market and power production, and is collaborating with Sonangol in the downstream sector to improve the efficiency of existing refineries and to support the development of future plants, the company said.
Eni also supports demining activities in Angola and is aiding the socio-economic development of communities in the southern region including water, sanitation, energy and training projects that will help about 60,000 people, it said.
