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“The auctioning of new oil blocks anywhere is plans for community-led forest management.”
wrong and undermines communities’ right to a As of press time, it was not clear whether
healthy environment,” she was quoted as saying DRC’s government had responded in any way
in the NGO’s statement. “The plan for big oil to Greenpeace’s appeal. ™
companies to trash Congo’s most sensitive eco-
systems is a historic error that must be scrapped
immediately.”
She also urged the international community
to focus on supporting the DRC government
in its pledge to help formulate solutions for cli-
mate change. “Donor countries, which pledged
$500mn to protect Congo’s rainforest during
the COP26 in Glasgow, are realising the extent
of [the] chaos that prevails in the management
of these forests. They must now address the
shady and dirty plans for replacing rainforests
and peatlands with oil,” she commented. “Donor
countries can support the Congolese govern-
ment to become a country of solutions rather
than a producer of new pollution by ramping up
investments in renewable energy and expanding Peatlands in Cuvette Centrale (Photo: Greenpeace)

Sonangol to move forward with Lobito

refinery project despite lack of partner

ANGOLA ANGOLA’S national oil company (NOC) this refinery is moving forward.”
Sonangol has decided to move forward with the The Sonangol head also told reporters that
construction of a new refinery at Lobito even the company was having to adapt its plans for
though it has yet to choose a partner for the pro- another refinery project in light of recent devel-
ject, according to Sebastião Gaspar Martins, the opments. The conflict between Russia and
company’s president. Ukraine has affected the NOC’s efforts to pro-
Martins indicated on Monday, April 18 that cure the steel it needs for the construction of an
Sonangol had chosen this strategy even though it oil-processing plant in Cabinda, he explained.
had hoped initially to follow a different path. “At Sonangol has been discussing the Lobito
the moment, we are deciding with which entities refinery project for about 20 years and began
we are going to form the consortium and share- searching for a partner last year.
holder, but we intend to move forward with the It is looking to retain a 30% stake in the pro-
project, albeit with initial funds from Sonangol,” ject but hopes to form a consortium with the
he was quoted as saying by Ver Angola during a strategic investor or investors that can buy the
press briefing. “The decision has been taken, and remaining 70%.

Infrastructure networks in Lobito (Image: Sonangol)

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 16 20•April•2022