Sonangol - Lobito Refinery
Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol), a company responsible for the management of oil and gas reserves in Angola is planning to construct a refinery on a 3,805ha area with a processing capacity of 200,000 barrels of oil per day at Lobito, Benguela, Angola.
The project is also known as Sonaref.
Project will create 8000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and 4000 jobs during production.
The refinery unit will process crude into the following products: unleaded gasoline, diesel, jet fuel (Jet1), illuminant oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and limited quantities of sulfur and oil coke.
The project will be developed in phases. Each phase will refine 100,000 barrels of oil per day.
Sonangol contracted Kellog Brown & Root (KBR) for Consulting, Engineering, Construction of Sonaref. The scope of the contract also includes designing, coordinating the activities of licensing the units, procurement of required patents, and used technologies. However, later the contract has been terminated.
The US$7,000 million project includes the following:
1. Installation of a pumping System
2. Installation of a powerful support system
3. Installation of a communication system
4. Construction of a refinery
5. Construction of a storage unit
6. Construction of a distribution unit
7. Laying of pipelines
Second Section
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13 March 2024
The construction works have been progressing on the project.
23 October 2023
China National Chemical Engineering Company (CNCEC) is working as main contractor and construction works are progressing on the project.
14 July 2023
The construction works are ongoing on the project and is expected to be completed by 2025.
22 May 2023
Construction works are ongoing on the project and will be completed by 2026.
31 March 2023
Construction works are ongoing.
10 February 2023
Construction works are ongoing on the project and will be completed by 2026.
04 November 2022
The Angolan government has offered to partner with Zambia for the development of the project.
03 August 2022
The preliminary works are underway and Sonangol has decided to reactivate the construction works on its own and later with partners.
14 June 2022
We have not been able to obtain further updates on this project. We have retained the same project stage and amended the key dates accordingly. We will update the profile as soon as we obtain any new information.
12 June 2022
The preliminary works are going on and Sonangol has decided to reactivate the construction works of the project on its own
24 April 2022
The government of Zambia seeks to acquire a stake in the project development.
04 March 2022
There is no official intimation from Sonangol regarding the selection of the potential investor.
29 December 2021
The project owner company, Sonangol is in the process of identifying the investors for the project.
11 November 2021
Proposal evaluation period is ongoing including bid clarification phase until Novemebr 26, 2021. The winner is expected to be announced by December 10, 2021 followed by MoU preparation and singing is expected between 13th-30th December 2021, and later negotiation and signing of shareholders agreement between 2nd January and 28th February 2022.
15 October 2021
Sonangol held the public opening of the tender and received five proposals: 1. Consortium of LANPEC Technology Limited (China) and International Business Development Group â IBD (USA) 2. Consortium of Gemcorp Holding Limited and Omatapalo â Engenharia & Construção 3. Consortium of Hull Byth Man Power â General Trade and Provision of Services Ltd, AVIC International Beijing Co Ltd and China Huanquiu Contracting & Engineering Co Ltd 4. Layher Company (Pty) Ltd 5. GazMin International Company
09 July 2021
Sonangol invites qualified companies to respond to the Investment Proposal Request to plan, build and, in partnership with SONANGOL, own and manage (Build, Own, Operate â BOO) an oil refinery and related infrastructure. The proposal submission deadline is on October 14, 2021.
22 March 2021
The project has been put on hold because of high costs and issues around the projectâs feasibility.
10 January 2021
Front-end engineering and design works were completed.
18 November 2020
Sonangol will soon update front-end engineering and design for the project, on which JGC Corporation of Japan plans to deliver engineering, procurement, and construction.
22 July 2020
The project is being reassessed, and the economic and financial feasibility study was completed.
28 May 2020
The developers are in the process of evaluating the received proposals to award the construction contract and structuring the shareholders for the project.
29 January 2020
The developer is in the process of evaluating the proposals.
05 July 2019
The developer is in the process of evaluating the proposals.
16 April 2019
GoA received a letter from the Government of Zambia (GoZ) expressing its interests to be a shareholder in the Lobito refinery.
15 March 2018
Sonangol has selected the seven best undisclosed proposals out of 16 received proposals, and submitted to the GoA for appreciation, recommendation, and decision on the contract.
11 November 2017
Sonangol invited interested companies to submit their proposals for the construction of Lobito refinery.
01 September 2017
The project is on hold.
01 February 2017
The project is on hold to review its development, phasing, and investment plans.
01 September 2016
The project is on hold to review its development, phasing, and financing.
21 June 2016
The construction work and the contracts involved in the project are suspended due to the drop in oil prices in the international market and also to re-evaluate the investment according to the market trend.
01 January 2011
Project is in the Design and Engineering phase.
01 August 2009
KBR and Sonangol signed an agreement for FEED.
01 March 2008
The project is in the early development stage.
01 January 2007
Sonangol announced plans to develop Sonaref Refinery.