Omani oilfield services firm eyes Africa expansion with Sonangol pact

MUSCAT, SEPT 22
Omani oilfield services provider Desert Sand Oil & Gas (DSOG) has taken a significant step towards expanding into Africa through a cooperation pact with Angola’s national oil company Sonangol.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Khalid bin Sultan al Junaibi, Group CEO of DSOG parent Al Daham Holding Group, during the recent state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Angola.
Covering potential cooperation in oilfield services and technologies, the MoU provides DSOG with a platform to explore opportunities in one of Africa’s established hydrocarbon markets.
For Sonangol, the agreement potentially opens access to specialised capabilities developed by an Omani company across drilling and workover support, wellheads, completion technologies, artificial lift, mud logging and oilfield equipment services.
“A proud moment and an important step toward expanding Omani business presence and building strategic partnerships in Africa’s energy sector,” Al Junaibi said, describing the agreement as a milestone for the company.
Established in 2011, DSOG is a wholly Omani-owned oilfield services provider and a subsidiary of Al Daham Holding Group. The company employs more than 500 people and operates across Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, making the prospective entry into Angola a notable extension beyond its established Gulf footprint.
Sonangol (Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola) is Angola’s state-owned oil and gas company and one of the country’s most important energy enterprises. Established in 1976, Sonangol operates across the hydrocarbon value chain, with interests spanning oil and gas exploration and production, refining, distribution, trading, shipping and related services.
Significantly, the DSOG agreement also forms part of a broader expansion in Oman-Angola energy ties. During the same state visit, Oman's integrated energy group OQ signed a separate memorandum with Sonangol establishing a framework to assess cooperation across the energy value chain. Potential areas include upstream exploration and production, LNG, fertilisers, ammonia and petrochemicals, as well as commodity supply and trading.
OQ Alternative Energy separately agreed with Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water to explore development of around 500 MW of renewable generation alongside battery energy storage.
The agreements underscore a wider Omani push to establish commercial partnerships in Africa, with officials describing the Angola visit as part of efforts to open new markets for Omani investment and companies.