"The national oil company has already carried out several phases of the project, including the economic feasibility study, reassessment of the 'feed', dredging of Lobito bay, preparation of the embankments, pipeline of the heavy cargo road, steps that will allow for more effective action to potential partners," Sonangol said in a statement
The tender was launched at the Lobito Municipal Administration, in the presence of national and foreign investors, as well as the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, who noted the "special significance" of this refinery, in a scenario in which 80 percent of the fuel consumed is imported.
"The Angolan State (...) has directed efforts to enhance the crude oil transformation segment, which includes the Lobito refinery, as a key initiative to meet the goal of reducing or eradicating our external dependence on oil refined products," he said.
The construction of a refinery with this processing capacity "will significantly impact the national economy and the lives of the population, given that it will eliminate the risks inherent to the increase in the cost of derivatives at the internal level, motivated by exchange rate fluctuations and oscillation of the price of refined products on international markets," he continued.
According to Diamantino Azevedo, it is expected that a considerable national work force will be absorbed, with the availability of about eight thousand direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase, and another four thousand during the operation phase.
Besides this, the State "has created several tax incentives, with considerable time horizons, in order to allow a tax relief and a certain level of financial relief for the entrepreneurs, and thus safeguard the economic viability of the project," he indicated.
