Luanda — The Angolan Oil minister, Botelho de Vasconcelos, has said in Luanda that the government continues to promote the development of the oil and gas sector, since it is a catalyst for the diversification of national economy and contributes to the reduction of poverty in the country.

The Angolan minister spoke at the launching of the magazine "The Oil and Gas Year", adding that the government's effort in the sector is based also on the will to provide better living condition to the people, through higher access to the ways of using modern, more accessible and efficient energy, available in abundance in the country.

José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos explained that it is in this way of thinking that the sector assumes its position as the entity promoting the development of national capacities and competences in the fields of research, exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing.

The Oil minister said, however, that the Angolan government has outlined as key objectives in the medium term, the need to increase activities of prospecting, exploration of crude oil and natural gas, make new oil concessions and develop the natural gas and petrochemical industries.