ExxonMobil has made a new oil discovery offshore Angola, signalling renewed exploration activity by the US energy company in the country’s mature Congo Basin acreage.

The discovery was made as ExxonMobil steps up exploration in an area that has produced oil for decades but still holds potential for additional reserves.

The find is expected to strengthen Angola’s position as a major oil-producing country and could support further investment in offshore exploration and production.

The development also highlights renewed interest by international oil companies in Angola’s established petroleum basins, where new discoveries could help extend the life of existing assets and increase future output.

Angola’s upstream regulator, the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), led by chief executive Paulino Jeronimo, has been working to attract fresh investment and encourage exploration across the country’s oil-producing areas.