The Gabonese Refining Company has unveiled a refinery project aimed at increasing the country's oil production capacity. The plan, whose cost is estimated at 40 billion CFA francs (about 69.5 million USD), also includes the rehabilitation of the Port-Gentil refinery,

The Gabonese Refining Company (Sogara) recently unveiled an ambitious project to increase the country's oil production capacity. This strategic project, whose cost is estimated at 40 billion CFA francs, will consist in the rehabilitation of the Port-Gentil refinery and the construction of a new refinery. “We have defined a rehabilitation and construction plan in two phases, to be completed in 2027 and 2030 respectively. The project will be financed 30% from its own funds by Sogara and 70% by external debt, and will cover Gabonese needs until 2050,” said Christian Avaro Yeno,

The first phase, already underway, therefore consists in the rehabilitation of the Port-Gentil factory in order to increase production capacity in order to bring it to 1.25 million tons/year by 2027. It is valued at 2.5 billion CFA francs. The second phase includes the construction of a new production unit. “With regard to the extension of the current refinery, by 2029 we can start this unit so that Gabon can produce nearly 2.7 million fuel and cover its market until 2050,” continues Christian Avaro

Currently, Gabon has only one refinery, created in 1964 and managed by Sogara. The latter produces 900,000 tons of petroleum products per year, half of which is white fuel and 350,000 tons of diesel. With these new projects, Gabon hopes not only to meet national needs, but also to significantly reduce dependence on imports.