Angola’s national oil company, Sonangol, has set a target to reach a refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2026.
The company expects to achieve 22% of this goal by the end of 2025, through the completion of Phase 1 of the Cabinda oil refinery, which is currently under construction.
Joaquim Kiteculo, CEO of Sonangol Refining, revealed this target during an announcement in Cape Town on April 9, 2025.
He explained that the Cabinda refinery, with a target refining capacity of 60,000 bpd, would be a key contributor to the overall goal.
Kiteculo noted that the NOC aims to reduce Angola’s imports of refined petroleum products by 14% by 2026.
“The Cabinda refinery will play a major role in helping us reduce imports and strengthen our domestic refining capabilities,” Kiteculo said.
In addition to the Cabinda refinery, Angola has three other refineries at varying stages of development.
The Luanda refinery, currently operational, has a capacity of 65,000 bpd. Meanwhile, the Soyo refinery, in the financing phase, is set to produce 100,000 bpd.
The Lobito refinery, which is under construction, will have a capacity of 200,000 bpd when completed.
Kiteculo also mentioned that Sonangol is collaborating with global energy players Eni and Honeywell to develop a bio refinery in the country.
The project is expected to begin operations by the end of 2026.
“Our partnership with Eni and Honeywell on the bio refinery is a critical part of our strategy to diversify and modernize Angola’s energy sector,” Kiteculo added.
With these efforts, Sonangol is positioning itself to meet the increasing demand for refined products and reduce the country’s reliance on imported fuels.
The company’s aggressive expansion of its refining capacity marks a significant step toward bolstering Angola’s energy independence in the coming years.
