Pre-emption twist may block or delay BW Energy’s entry into Angola’s oil & gas arena

February 6, 2026, by Melisa Cavcic

Oslo-listed oil and gas E&P player BW Energy is facing a pre-emption challenge, spurring uncertainty over its acquisition of two blocks off the coast of Angola, potentially hindering the firm’s expansion in West Africa.

Repurposed jack-up rig sets sail for Gabon — Illustration; Source: BW Energy

The company, in a consortium with Maurel & Prom, inked an agreement in December 2025 to buy a combined 20% non-operated interest in Block 14 and 10% in Block 14K offshore Angola from Azule Energy, a joint venture between two energy majors, Italy’s Eni and the UK’s BP.

The Oslo-listed firm and its partner have now been notified that one of the existing joint venture partners in Block 14 and Block 14K has indicated its intention to exercise its pre-emption rights in relation to the transaction.

BW Energy claims that the agreement with Azule Energy remains effective until the execution of a new sale and purchase agreement between the Angolan player and the party exercising the pre-emption right.

The company explains that it remains committed to its strategy of establishing a presence in Angola as part of its broader West Africa growth ambitions, and continues to evaluate opportunities in the country and the wider region.

Block 14 is a mature deepwater asset comprising nine producing fields, while Block 14K is a tie-back to the main block, operated by Chevron. The license currently runs until 2038. The gross production is approximately 40 kbopd, with net to BW Energy at 4 kbopd.

Meanwhile, the firm is advancing preparations for the MaBoMo phase 2 in the Dussafu licence offshore Gabon toward the planned drilling start in July 2026.