Angola’s state-owned oil company, Sonangol — the financial engine of Africa’s second-largest crude producer — has announced plans to install more than 100 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the country by 2028, signalling a cautious but notable step into a post-oil world.
The plan, detailed ahead of the Angola Oil & Gas 2025 conference, is the most visible part of the company’s new “multi-energy” strategy, which aims to balance its legacy fossil fuel operations with investments in renewables.
Company officials stated that an initial 70 charging stations are slated for installation by the end of 2025, with nearly half of them (30) designated for the capital, Luanda. To support the initiative, Sonangol has also launched a mobile app to help future EV drivers locate the nascent infrastructure.
A Calculated Hedge, Not a Pivot
While the move into electric mobility is significant for an economy almost entirely dependent on hydrocarbon exports, Sonangol was quick to frame it as diversification rather than a radical pivot.
The company’s strategy explicitly states it will continue to drive oil and gas exploration while simultaneously pursuing alternative energy sources. The EV charging network is part of a broader push that includes significant solar power projects aimed at decarbonising other sectors of the Angolan economy.
One of the primary targets for its solar strategy is the country’s mining industry. Historically reliant on expensive and polluting diesel generators, mines present a clear business case for a switch to cheaper, cleaner solar power. Sonangol plans to spearhead the distribution of solar solutions to mining operations to reduce both costs and carbon emissions.
This is underpinned by tangible generation projects, including the Quilemba solar project. Developed in partnership with European energy majors TotalEnergies and Maurel & Prom, the plant is expected to come online in 2026, adding 35 MW of capacity in its first phase.
The Reality on the Ground
Despite the forward-looking announcements, the challenges are immense. Angola’s national grid remains unreliable, and the number of electric vehicles currently on its roads is negligible. For the vast majority of Angolans, the high cost of purchasing an EV remains a prohibitive barrier.
Sonangol’s strategy appears to be a classic case of building the infrastructure in the hopes that demand will follow. It’s a long-term bet on the eventual decline of fossil fuels and a preparatory measure for a future where even oil-producing nations need a green energy portfolio.
The initiative positions Sonangol as a modern, transition-ready company, particularly in the eyes of international partners and investors. However, for now, the plan is more symbolic than transformative. It’s a signal that even one of Africa’s oil titans sees the writing on the wall, but its core business of pumping crude isn’t changing anytime soon.