Status: In August last year, the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Petroleum launched an international public tender for the construction of a privately-owned oil refinery in Soyo. With current production meeting less than one-third of domestic oil consumption, Angola’s refining capacity remains severely underserved.
When will Angola’s new oil refinery be operational?
The project is well behind schedule, though. Initial construction commenced in 2020 with the refinery initially expected to be operational by early 2022. New refineries are also planned in Soyo, on Angola’s far north coast close to Cabinda, and Lobito, on the central coast. Both projects have seen long delays.
Can Angola fill 90% of the refinery’s jobs?
The head of Gemcorp’s operations in Luanda, Marcus Weyll, is confident that 90% of the refinery’s jobs can be filled by Angolan workers. The first phase will create 1,300 direct and indirect jobs, according to Gemcorp, which has set up a training center for this purpose.
What is the Cabinda refinery?
The Cabinda refinery is a joint venture between the UK-based asset management company Gemcorp and Angola’s national oil company, Sonangol. It’s hoped that it will deliver around 10% of Angola’s domestic demand for refined oil products, such as diesel and jet fuel, with plans to increase the capacity in further phases.