Petroleum and hydrocarbon licences
Upstream and downstream authorisations under the country's petroleum code, with local technical and legal counsel.
Updated on 29 October 2026 · Published under the responsibility of Jason Pivron, director · Who we are
What the service covers
- Prior qualification of the company and its shareholders with the authority.
- Technical, financial and environmental file required by the petroleum code.
- Support through production-sharing or concession negotiations.
- Guarantee, insurance and restoration obligations, costed before signature.
In practice
The petroleum sector separates upstream, exploration and production, from downstream: refining, storage, transport and distribution. Upstream, the state awards blocks by tender or direct negotiation, as a concession or a production-sharing contract. Downstream, each activity needs a separate authorisation, often issued by the ministry or a regulatory agency. In both cases, technical and financial capacity must be shown, and guarantees provided to cover work commitments and site restoration. In Nigeria, the exploration licence (PEL) comes before the prospecting lease (PPL), then the production lease (PML); downstream, refining, storage and distribution each have their own NMDPRA licence. Contracts also set the state's share, local-content obligations and the work schedule, which the regulator monitors for the life of the title. In Angola, the ANPG, created by Presidential Decree 49/19 of 2019, took over from Sonangol as the national concessionaire and has awarded the blocks ever since.
Framework and documents
Nigeria: the sector falls under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and its two regulators, the NUPRC upstream and the NMDPRA downstream. Angola: the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) awards the blocks. Documents usually requested: articles and shareholding, financial statements, technical references, bank guarantees.
Recorded on 1 October 2026; to be checked for each file.
What we tell you before we start
These files are measured in months and bank guarantees, not weeks. We open an engagement only where the required financial capacity is in place and demonstrable.
Petroleum and hydrocarbon licences: frequently asked questions
Petroleum and hydrocarbon licences: how much does it cost?
On quote, after the scoping call.