President João Lourenço Launches Cabinda Refinery to Strengthen Angola’s Energy Security and Create Jobs
President João Lourenço inaugurated the first phase of the Cabinda Refinery on Monday, marking a historic milestone in Angola’s energy sector.
Budgeted at $473 million, the refinery will initially process 30,000 barrels of oil per day, with full capacity planned at 60,000 barrels per day. Angola is expected to sell its first refined products from the facility by the end of 2025.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Lourenço highlighted the strategic importance of refining domestic crude oil: “It is not enough to produce crude oil.
We must also transform it locally. The Cabinda Refinery is a critical step toward energy self-sufficiency, job creation, and boosting the value of our natural resources.”
The refinery is a partnership between Gemcorp (90%) and state-owned Sonangol (10%), operating under a processing fee model that ensures oil and refined products remain under state ownership while Gemcorp provides refining services.
Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, praised the refinery as a “strategic asset that strengthens Angola’s energy security, creates jobs, and demonstrates the state’s leadership in managing mineral resources for the benefit of all Angolans.”
The Cabinda Refinery is the first refinery built in Angola since independence and will produce diesel, jet fuel (Jet A1), heavy fuel oil, and naphtha.
The project has already created over 3,000 jobs, with 700 Angolan technicians trained, ensuring the development of local expertise and human capital.
Governor Suzana Abreu described the inauguration as “a dream come true that will transform natural resources locally, generating income, technology, and growth opportunities for Cabinda and the entire country.”
Gemcorp Chairman Marcus Weyll emphasized the technological sophistication and safety record of the project, highlighting 14 million accident-free work hours and investment in the refinery’s second phase.
The inauguration of the Cabinda Refinery was the centerpiece of President Lourenço’s two-day visit to the province, which also included opening the new provincial government headquarters and attending a local government meeting.
The launch underscores President Lourenço’s vision for Angola: turning crude oil into refined products domestically, reducing import dependence, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable economic growth across the country.
