Law No. 10/04 regulating Petroleum Activities.

This Law is composed of nine Chapters divided in 97 articles. It defines the rules of access to the exercise of petroleum operations in the surface and subsurface areas falling under Angolan jurisdiction (national territory, inland waters, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf). The Law does not address to other petroleum activities, including the refining of crude oil and the storage, transportation, distribution and marketing of petroleum. Particular attention is paid to the regulation of concessions, licensing as well as rights and obligations of both licensees and the national concessionaire. Regarding petroleum operations, the law rules every stage, from prospecting, exploration and appraisal to development and production. Finally, it regulates inspection activities.