French energy giant TotalEnergies announced on 13 April 2026 a second hydrocarbon discovery at its Moho offshore permit near Pointe-Noire, bringing the site's total estimated recoverable reserves to 100 million barrels. The find comes as the Republic of Congo (a central African nation and the top oil producer within the CEMAC monetary zone) grapples with severe fiscal pressures, including heavy debts owed to China, commodity traders, and local banks, with its debt sustainability only recently stabilised under an IMF programme. Economists welcome the discovery as a much-needed financial lifeline but caution that Brazzaville must avoid pre-selling future output before a single barrel is extracted — a risk given the country's acute liquidity needs.