The Congolaise de Raffinage (CORAF), a subsidiary of the state-owned Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), operates Congo’s sole refinery in Pointe-Noire.
Processing one million tons of crude oil annually, CORAF produces finished products like butane gas, gasoline, kerosene, light diesel, and heavy fuel oil, meeting approximately 70% of the country’s refined petroleum needs.
The refinery sources most of its crude oil from the Djeno terminal, located south of Pointe-Noire. This terminal, handling 95% of Congo’s oil production, connects to the refinery via a 25-kilometer pipeline.
To address growing domestic energy demands and reduce imports, the government is constructing the Atlantic Petrochemical Refinery in Fouta, near Pointe-Noire.
Developed in partnership with Beijing Fortune Dingheng Investment, this $600 million project will produce 2.5 million tons annually in its first phase, including high-quality gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene, and petrochemical feedstocks like propylene and hydrogenated naphtha. Operations are expected to begin by the end of 2025, significantly bolstering Congo’s energy security.
Gas Sector Expansion
Congo is also expanding its downstream gas sector with several key projects:
- Wing Wah’s Banga Kayo Project: This initiative will monetize previously flared associated gas through onshore development, expected to yield 30 billion m³ of gas over 25 years. Products will include dry gas, LNG, LPG, and polypropylene, reducing emissions and enhancing domestic energy supply.
- Eni’s Congo LNG Project: In February 2024, Eni delivered its first LNG cargo from the Tango FLNG facility, which has a liquefaction capacity of 3 million tons per year. This project supports both domestic consumption and export markets.
Congo is preparing a gas master plan and a new gas code to attract investments and drive industrialization.
These frameworks aim to support infrastructure development in LNG, LPG, and gas-to-power projects, leveraging natural gas for sustainable growth.
To enhance refining capabilities, Congo is securing international partnerships:
- Upgrades to the CORAF Refinery: In November 2024, SNPC partnered with Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company to modernize the CORAF refinery, boosting capacity and aligning with environmental standards.
- Fuel Distribution Pipeline: In October 2024, Russia agreed to build a fuel pipeline from Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, improving distribution efficiency and laying the groundwork for a new oil refinery in collaboration with Russian entities.
- Sonatrach Collaboration: In May 2024, Algeria’s Sonatrach and SNPC explored expanding their partnership to develop Congo’s refining capacity and hydrocarbon resources.
Upcoming Forum to Showcase Progress
The Congo Energy & Investment Forum 2025, scheduled for March 25-26 in Brazzaville, will spotlight these advancements. The event will connect developers with policymakers to secure investments and foster partnerships, positioning Congo as a regional leader in refined petroleum products and sustainable energy solutions.
By modernizing infrastructure and fostering global collaborations, Congo is poised to meet domestic energy demands while driving industrialization and economic growth in the region.
