Page 10 - DMEA Week 03 2023

DMEA PIPELINES DMEA

Angola and Zambia hasten joint

infrastructure development

AFRICA ANGOLA and Zambia last week concluded is projected to cost around $5bn, double the
bilateral negotiations on infrastructure deals that amount that was predicted when it was first
appear set to bring long-awaited progress on a unveiled 10 years ago. The project has gone
major cross-border pipeline. through multiple revisions in its lifetime, and
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told is expected to run through 1,400 km of the
a joint news conference in Luanda that he was Lobito Corridor, connecting Zambia to Angola’s
“aware that a number of agreements have been planned 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) Lobito
signed by the two countries in this regard and refinery, scheduled for completion in 2025.
despite some of these being signed under the The pipeline, also known as the Refined
previous government, ours is to pick up where Petroleum Multi-Product and Natural Gas
they left off and ensure that these projects are Pipeline Project (AZOP), will have a capacity of
implemented.” 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd),
He described his interactions at the confer- comprising gasoline, diesel and natural gas.
ence in Luanda as ‘fruitful’ and added: “We are Zambian Ambassador to Angola Lawrence
actually ready to sign that contract. I still do not Chalungumana said: “This milestone agree-
understand why we must import oil, at a huge ment will bring to an end a more than 10-year-
cost from Saudi [Arabia], Europe, yet Angola old complex negotiation process that shall lead
just next door here has oil.” to cheaper fuel for Zambia.”
The two countries have previously under- Currently, Zambia imports nearly all of its
lined the importance of investments in the oil fuel from the Middle East, through the Tanza-
and gas sector as a means of achieving mutual nian port of Dar-es-Salaam, which is connected
economic growth. to the local 40,000 bpd Indeni refinery by the
The Angola-Zambia Oil Pipeline (AZOP) 1,710-km Tazama pipeline.

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