Africa-Press – Angola. The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, announced, this Tuesday, the construction of a petroleum derivatives laboratory in Luanda, valued at around 10 million dollars.
Speaking during a parliamentary hearing at the 5th Specialized Work Commission of the National Assembly (CTE), dealing with economic and financial issues, the government official also said that the country will gain a gas cylinder production factory, without advancing the time horizon..
He highlighted the existence of several instruments to stabilize oil production and reduce its decline, adding that, after Luanda, laboratories will be implemented at regional level.
He highlighted the release of the sale of petroleum derivatives in the country, with authorizations for filling stations of up to 200 cubic meters being transferred to the provinces.
The country has 1,565 gas stations, of which 900 are active.
Diamantino Azevedo, whose hearing took more than four hours, spoke about structuring projects in the sector, as well as about autonomy in the storage of derivatives, having envisaged increasing capacity in this process.
He reiterated that Angola produces 20% of its fuel needs and 80% continues to be imported.
According to the minister, with the refineries under construction, internal needs will be satisfied and there will be products to sell, as the country will have a capacity of 420 thousand barrels/day.
He predicted that the reactivation of the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal (TOBD), to be opened next year, will help ensure that there is no shortage of refined oil for consumption in the country and for export.
He also referred to the start, in 2025, of construction work on the Cabinda refinery, with capacity for 60 thousand barrels of oil/day, divided into three phases, two of 30 thousand barrels each and the third for optimization.
Regarding the Soyo refinery, designed for 100 thousand barrels/day, he said that the company in charge of construction is having great difficulties in obtaining financing, having been given a deadline to mobilize funds.
The Lobito refinery (200 thousand barrels) is said to be under construction, despite continuing to look for investment partners to boost the project.
When responding about the privatization process of Sonangol and Endiama, Diamantino Azevedo clarified that it was the sale on the stock exchange of up to 30%, each, of the shares of both companies.
In his opinion, the process has elements that still need to be fine-tuned, in addition to an excess of 40% more workers.
Social responsability
In relation to this, he said that there are social projects that are generally discussed with provincial governments and all actors, with the sector presenting an exhaustive report, which was sent to the National Assembly.
He explained that from 2017 to 2023 around 575 million dollars were invested in various projects, mainly linked to the areas of health and education.
As an example, he cited the construction in different locations of training centers, water supply, electricity, construction of soy milk factories and bakeries for school meals, as well as universities.
Recommendations
The president of the Economy and Finance Committee, Aia-Eza da Silva, recommended that the sector make better use of staff, given the needs at all levels, and the Ministry should meet with other ministerial departments.
He also requested the availability of the various existing reports, training and local content.
It reinforced the need to find more sustainable compromises with investors, allowing the generation of wealth and helping the national business community to gain a foothold in the market.
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