Luanda, Angola | — Africa’s second largest oil producer behind Nigeria, Angola, produced 1.7 barrel of oil/daily in July, announced last Wednesday, by the minister of Oil, José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos.
Speaking at the opening of a seminar on “Dispersants and burning in situ”, the minister stressed that this production tends to grow due to the objective outlined to reach the production of two million barrel of oil daily in 2015.
According to the government official, over 99% of the national oil production happens offshore, being two thirds from deep waters with water above 2,000 meters, which presents large challenges and some risks.
The minister stressed that despite the top technology used in these operations and sophisticated system of security, accidents happens and should take that into account and knowing how to deal with such situations when necessary.
José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos highlighted that the contingency plan against oil spill on the sea, approved by the Cabinet Council in 2008, is an instrument which establishes guidelines for the preparation and response to oil spills in areas of Angolan jurisdiction, being its national commission of fighting oil spill coordinated by the President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos.
