Zambia has signed a landmark agreement to develop a $1.1 billion crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola, located in the country’s copperbelt region.
- Zambia signed a $1.1 billion agreement to develop a crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola.
- The facility will process up to 60,000 barrels per day, meeting domestic fuel demand and enabling exports.
- Construction begins in 2025, with operations targeted for 2026, involving cooperation with Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation.
Zambia has signed a landmark agreement to develop a $1.1 billion crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola, located in the country’s copperbelt region, the government announced on Monday.
The new facility is expected to process up to 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, enough to meet the entire domestic fuel demand and enable future exports to neighbouring countries, Reuters reported.
According to a government statement, the project could save Zambia millions of dollars annually by reducing its reliance on fuel imports.
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Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with the first phase of commercial operations targeted for 2026.
The agreement was signed between Zambia’s state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and China’s Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation. An IDC spokesperson said that crude oil will be sourced from the Middle East and imported via Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port.
Beyond fuel refining, the planned energy complex will include infrastructure for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottling, bitumen production, lubricant blending, and a 130-megawatt power plant, boosting Zambia’s broader energy and industrial capacity.
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Cross-border refinery partnership
Separately, Zambia has also secured an equity stake in Angola’s Lobito refinery project, located in Benguela Province along the Atlantic Coast.
President Hakainde Hichilema had earlier announced the country’s intention to invest in the facility, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed by 2026.
Once operational, the Lobito refinery is projected to process up to 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Under the current arrangement, private investors, including Zambia, will collectively hold a 70% stake, while Angola’s state oil company, Sonangol, will retain the remaining 30%.
