Angola's National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) announced on 1/4 that Xuan Thien Group (XTG) won the bid for KON 9 block. Xuan Thien Group, through its member company XTP, will serve as the operator of KON 9 block with an 80% participating interest. Partner Brite’s Energy holds a 20% stake but will not participate in operations.

Xuan Thien Group delegation working with ANPG board of directors. *Photo: Xuan Thien Group.*

KON 9 block is part of Angola's onshore oil and gas bidding program, boasting a favorable geological location. Experts assess this area has high commercial potential, as it is located in the Kwanza sedimentary basin, a region known for significant oil and gas discoveries with large reserves. The total in-place oil resources for KON 9 block are estimated at 800 million barrels.

Winning the bid and securing operating rights for KON 9 block marks a significant milestone in Xuan Thien's international expansion strategy. As the operator, the group will directly manage the entire process, from exploration and reserve assessment to field development and extraction. "This demonstrates the group's reputation, financial capacity, and international standard project management capabilities to global energy regulatory bodies," a group representative stated.

According to ANPG regulations, upon receiving the bid award notification, Xuan Thien Group will fulfill financial obligations and technical data fees. Subsequently, the entity will accelerate strategic steps, including: signing oil and gas contracts (PSC/RSC), conducting 2D seismic surveys, evaluating geological structures, and preparing an exploitation plan.

Xuan Thien's core objective is to expedite the KON 9 block's entry into commercial exploitation as soon as possible. Amid fluctuations in global energy security, expanding oil and gas exploration and production investment in Angola not only brings economic value to the group but also contributes to diversifying strategic energy supplies for Vietnam.

Aiming for sustainable development, the group commits to implementing projects in accordance with international ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, linking economic benefits with fostering local community development.

Employees of Agrostars Company, a subsidiary of Xuan Thien Group, on a large-scale model farm in Angola. *Photo: Xuan Thien Group.*

The KON 9 block project is an important link in the integrated investment ecosystem Xuan Thien is developing in Angola. Previously, in 3/2025, the group signed a cooperation agreement to study oil and gas potential in the Etosha (Okavango) basin, covering an area of up to 200,000 km2. The Etosha (Okavango) basin is located in southern Angola, bordering Namibia, and is assessed by the Angolan government as a region with abundant oil and gas reserves.

The group's strategy focuses on four sectors: mining, including iron ore, copper, and rare earth extraction; energy, with a focus on oil and gas and hydropower; large-scale agriculture and forestry; and industry, encompassing the production of "green" pig iron—a raw material for the Nam Dinh green steel complex—as well as fertilizer production and agricultural processing.

Xuan Thien Group is a leading Vietnamese multi-industry economic group, primarily operating in manufacturing, renewable energy, heavy industry, high-tech agriculture, large-scale model farms, and infrastructure. With investment scales reaching tens of billions of USD domestically and internationally, the group is progressively realizing its ambition to elevate Vietnamese brands globally.

(Source: Xuan Thien Group)