Luanda – Angola declared on Friday (27) its determination to continue to work, in 2025, to keep its crude oil production above 1 million barrels per day, with a view to overcoming the decline observed in the sector in the past few years and stabilise the supply of the product in the national and international markets.
The fact was reiterated in Luanda by the minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, on the fringes of the yearend greetings ceremony with the Head of State, João Lourenço.
Speaking to the press, the minister explained that this measure is part of the National Development Plan (PDN-2023/2027), which outlines the continuation of the increase in crude oil production and further prospecting works, thus the need to focus on attracting new investments into the sector.
On the occasion, the minister informed that in 2025 his sector will continue with the process of refining and stocking oil by-products.
In regard to the new refinery in Cabinda Province, whose construction is still taking place, the minister revealed that the first phase of refining work in that plant is scheduled to beging next year.
On the other hand, the Soyo refinery, in Zaire Province, whose construction process has registered a slight delay, is also set to start operating soon. The minister also gave good prospects as to the start of the construction of the Lobito refinery, in benguela Province, having announced that the concerned authorities are now looking for investment partners and financing for that undertaking.
Diamantino Azevedo seized the occasion to give reassurance that there will be also increase in the production of diamonds, dimension stones and gold, as well as the start of the production of copper and other minerals.
Meanwhile, the average production of crude oil, this year, was just over 1.1 million barrels per day, registering an increase of 7% in relation to the target set by the State’s General Budget (OGE) for 2024, which forecast a daily production of 1,060 million.
AFL/QCB/jmc
