Whenever possible and when needed Sonangol expands its activities to other industries and sectors. As it has grown, Sonangol was up specializing and in this path to achieving its aims constituted the subsidiary Sonangol Holdings, whose corporate purpose is the development of partnerships (joint ventures) with other companies enable it to the full exercise of their activities.
For instance when there was no national companies able to participate in the oil sector, Sonangol participated in the creation of the following companies:
- Paenal - Porto Amboim Shipyards - company in engineering activity, namely, naval constructions and other metal-mechanical goods for the oil, gas and other, offshore platforms dedicated to the drilling of wells;
- Sonamet - provider of manufacturing of metal structures for support services to the oil industry;
- Sonasurf - company dedicated to provide maritime services fot the petroleum operations;
- Sonasing - company with FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading) operating offshore Angola;
As a public company, Sonangol has, among other objectives, the obligation to promote job creation, the acquisition of technology and the development of expertise of national companies.
In this context the government of Angola has established legislation aimed at favoring national companies (when able) to the detriment of foreign companies operating in the same field of activity.