2021-04-11
The National Bank of Angola issued Notice No. 03/2021 to establish specific exchange rate rules for entities engaged in the exploration, development, production and sale of non-associated natural gas and its derivatives. The regulation mandates that export sales be settled in foreign currency, with revenues deposited into domestic foreign-currency accounts, while domestic transactions between exporters are preferably conducted in national currency. Furthermore, it outlines procedures for foreign currency availability, capital operations, profit transfers, external financing, and SINOC registration, with compliance enforced under existing exchange rate and financial institution laws.
PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE, I SERIES, NO. 63, OF APRIL 12, 2021 NOTICE NO. 03/2021 SUBJECT: EXCHANGE RATE POLICY - Specific Exchange Rate Rules Applicable to the Exploration, Research, Development, Production and Sale of Non-Associated Natural Gas and Its Derivatives Whereas the provisions of the current exchange rate legislation, Law No. 02/12 of January 13, which approves the New Exchange Rate Regime for the Oil Sector, and taking into account the Executive's policy to ensure financial intermediation of oil operations, aiming to balance the interests of the State, foreign investors, domestic investors and Banking Financial Institutions domiciled in the Country; Whereas it is necessary to update the regulations governing the exchange rate operations of entities active in the oil sector, specifically in the Exploration, Research, Development, Production and Sale of Non-Associated Natural Gas and its derivatives, aiming to maximize the value of resources existing in onshore and offshore blocks through a differentiated exchange rate regime; Therefore, under the combined provisions of Article 28(2) of Law 5/97 of June 27, and Article 51 of Law No. 16/10 of July 15, the National Bank of Angola Act. I HEREBY DETERMINE: Article 1. (Subject Matter) This Notice establishes the specific exchange rate rules applicable to entities engaged in the Exploration, Research, Appraisal, Development, Production and Sale of Non-Associated Natural Gas and its derivatives. CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 03/2021 Page 2 of 5 Article 2. (Scope) The recipients of the provisions contained in this Notice are the stakeholders in the Non-Associated Natural Gas sector, in carrying out exchange rate operations, namely: a) Companies involved in the research, development, production and/or sale of Non-Associated Natural Gas and its Derivatives; b) Banking Financial Institutions. CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 03/2021 Page 3 of 5 Article 3. (Definitions) For the purposes of this Notice, it is understood that: a) Non-Associated Natural Gas – natural gas that is not considered associated with crude oil, appraised, developed and/or produced under a concession granted in accordance with the Oil Activities Law; b) Banking Financial Institutions – Banks, companies whose main activity consists of receiving deposits or other refundable funds from the public in order to invest them on their own account, by granting credit, in accordance with Article 4 of the Financial Institutions Law; c) Exchange Rate Operations: any act, transaction or transfer carried out between a domestic and foreign exchange resident, which may result in payment or receipt from abroad, or which is simply qualified as such by law; d) Integrated Exchange Rate Operations System (SINOC) – automated information system provided by the National Bank of Angola to Banks, for registration, monitoring and control of exchange rate operations; e) Companies involved in the Research, Development, Production and/or Sale of Non-Associated Natural Gas and its Derivatives – commercial companies, national or foreign, that enter into a contract with the National Concessionaire under any of the forms provided for in the Oil Activities Law. CONTINUATION OF NOTICE NO. 03/2021 Page 4 of 5 Article 4. (Settlement Currency in the Sale of Non-Associated Natural Gas and Its Derivatives)