The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has officially completed the division of the Cuvette Centrale sedimentary basin into 52 new oil exploration blocks, as confirmed by the country’s Minister of Hydrocarbons, Aimé Sakombi Molendo. This move marks a significant step in expanding the nation’s energy exploration efforts.
The delineation of these blocks was done in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, with a focus on safeguarding protected areas and respecting environmental boundaries.
These 52 new blocks add to the three exploration zones previously allocated to the state-owned company COMICO, which are located in Mbandaka, Lokoro, and Busira.
Cuvette Centrale is a region of global environmental importance, containing vast peatlands and tropical forests that act as one of the world’s largest carbon sinks. Given this ecological significance, the DRC’s push for oil development in the area is drawing close attention from environmental groups and the international community.
The government continues to face the challenge of balancing its energy ambitions with the need to preserve critical ecosystems and meet climate commitments.
