Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan government is accelerating the construction of new refineries in the cities of Cabinda, Lobito and Soyo, with the aim of reducing the country’s dependence on imported petroleum derivatives. The Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, who was speaking yesterday in Luanda on the sidelines of the Forum on “50 Years of Oil Production and its Impact on the Country’s Development”, said that domestic consumption of petroleum derivatives currently represents 80 percent.
According to Diamantino Azevedo, the government’s strategy of rehabilitating and expanding the Luanda Refinery, which will allow for increased gasoline production, as well as the construction of new refineries in Cabinda, Lobito and Soyo, will help reduce the levels of imports of petroleum derivatives.“The Cabinda Refinery is divided into three phases and will process 30,000 barrels per day. The first phase will be completed this year. The Soyo Refinery project is facing obstacles in accessing financing. Despite the delays, new decisions need to be made to complete the projects,” he said.
The Lobito Refinery project, with a capacity to process 200,000 barrels per day, was revised to reduce costs and improve environmental standards.
“We have between 1,300 and 1,500 workers on the ground and others outside the country who are manufacturing the equipment. Despite the difficulties, construction is underway with exclusive financing from Sonangol, but we are also open to partnerships,” he said.
As for the supply of fuel in the provinces bordering the DRC, Cabinda and Zaire, the minister pointed to improper use as one of the causes of abnormal consumption of the product. “It is not a lack of fuel, but the need to better monitor its use. Some measures are being taken to adjust the supply according to real needs,” he explained.
Regarding the possible increase in the price of gasoline, Diamantino Azevedo said that there is no official information, having reinforced that prices continue to be heavily subsidized by the State.“Sonangol sells fuel at a price well below market value, which entails enormous costs for the State. The gradual withdrawal of subsidies is inevitable,” he pointed out.
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