DRC’s PHC to Build Palm Oil Refinery by 2028 as Company Targets Vertical Integration and Higher Output
Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), controlled by Kuramo Capital Management with an estimated 76% stake since 2021, is moving forward with plans to construct a palm oil refinery in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a broader strategy to strengthen vertical integration and capture more value locally.
Speaking in an interview with Forbes Afrique published in April 2026, PHC Managing Director Monique Gieskes said the refinery is expected to become operational within the next two years, with completion targeted around 2028.
The project forms part of PHC’s strategy to expand beyond crude palm oil production into downstream refining.
The company currently produces crude palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are sold to refiners in Kinshasa and Kongo Central.
With the new facility, PHC aims to refine part of its output domestically while continuing to supply existing clients, thereby increasing value retention within the local economy. The refinery’s planned capacity has not yet been disclosed.
Expansion Depends on Production Growth
The shift toward refining will require higher production volumes. However, company data indicates that output has remained relatively flat in recent years.
Production stood at approximately 80,000 tons in 2023 and is projected to reach around 81,000 tons in 2025, reflecting limited growth momentum. Despite this, PHC continues to target production of 100,000 tons by 2026.
The company operates three major industrial sites located in Boteka (Équateur Province), Yaligimba (Mongala Province), and Lokutu (Tshopo Province).
Management reports that its total land concessions cover roughly 106,000 hectares, of which about 30,000 hectares are currently planted with oil palm. The remaining land is viewed as potential space for future expansion.
Research and Innovation Efforts
PHC is also investing in agricultural research through its CREATY center in Yaligimba, which focuses on improving oil palm yields and product quality.
The company has highlighted experimental seed varieties described as “albino,” characterized by lower beta-carotene content, which could potentially produce lighter-colored oil directly after extraction.
While management has presented this development as a potential innovation in palm oil processing, the concept has not yet been independently validated in publicly available scientific literature.
Addressing a Structural Supply Deficit
PHC’s expansion plans come amid a significant structural gap in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s palm oil market.
According to estimates from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), national production is approximately 300,000 tons per year, while domestic demand exceeds 500,000 tons, resulting in a substantial supply deficit.
The planned refinery and production expansion are therefore positioned to contribute to import substitution, strengthen local processing capacity, and support broader agro-industrial development in the country.
