The objective, explained the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, is to supply treated gas to the Soyo plant, in the province of Zaire, and to other industrial projects such as the ammonia and urea factory, which he considered strategic for the country, guaranteeing self-sufficiency in fertilizers.
Diamantino Azevedo estimated that the first production of fertilizers should take place during the current mandate – until 2027 – and assured that the Government is providing support to the private promoters of the project (Opaia group), which also has a small stake in the state oil company, Sonangol.
"We know that the national and international context is difficult, it is a challenge that we set ourselves (...) and that does not involve the production of ammonia and urea, it involves our country becoming self-sufficient in soil improvers and fertilizers", highlighted the ruler at the inauguration ceremony.
"If the country starts producing fertilizers, it will spend less foreign exchange on importing fertilizers, which can be channeled to other areas, and we will have more agricultural productivity and be able to reinforce food security", he added.
Manuel Barros, executive president of Sonagás, a subsidiary of Sonangol for the distribution of butane gas, reiterated that the project will allow gas production to be maximized in Angola: "Instead of exporting raw materials, we are going to use this project in our country, generating energy for development and boosting the agricultural sector".
With a total cost of 42.8 million dollars, the Falcão Project took 26 months to be built, since the laying of the first stone, on September 28, 2021.
The infrastructure provides for the reception, transport and distribution of natural gas from the Angola LNG unit to the Soyo combined cycle plant and the fertilizer factory and will treat up to 150 million cubic feet of gas per day.
