The construction of the Fouta Refinery, located about 30 kilometers from Pointe-Noire, is set to be completed in 2025.  This project aims to mitigate the country’s dependence on imports, which amounted to $140 million in refined petroleum products in 2023.

Developed by Chinese company Beijing Fortune Dingheng Investment, the refinery will have an annual production capacity of 2.5 million tons of petroleum products, including diesel and gasoline.

Congo currently operates only one refinery, the Congolaise de Raffinage (CORAF) in Pointe-Noire. CORAF struggles to meet domestic demand, leading to recurrent fuel shortages. The Fouta Refinery’s $600 million investment is expected to ease these shortages, improve energy security and attract further investments in the downstream sector.