Zambia has signed a landmark $1.1 billion agreement to construct a crude oil refinery and integrated energy complex in Ndola, located in the country’s Copperbelt Province, the government announced Monday.
The project, aimed at reducing Zambia’s heavy reliance on imported fuel, will be developed through a partnership between the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and China’s Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with initial commercial operations targeted for 2026.
Once completed, the refinery is expected to process up to 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day—enough to meet the country’s entire domestic fuel demand and enable surplus exports to neighboring countries, according to Reuters.
A government spokesperson said the facility will help Zambia save millions of dollars annually on fuel imports.
Crude oil for the refinery will be sourced from the Middle East and transported through Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port.
In addition to refining crude oil, the Ndola energy complex will include infrastructure for:
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) bottling
Bitumen production
Lubricant blending
A 130-megawatt power plant
These components are expected to significantly enhance Zambia’s energy security and industrial output.
Meanwhile, Zambia has also secured an equity stake in Angola’s Lobito refinery project, located in Benguela Province along the Atlantic coast.
President Hakainde Hichilema had previously announced the country’s intention to invest in the project, which is under construction and slated for completion by 2026.
The Lobito refinery is projected to process up to 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Under the current investment structure, Zambia and other private investors will hold a 70% stake, while Angola’s state-owned oil company Sonangol will retain the remaining 30%.
These developments mark a major step forward in Zambia’s strategy to achieve energy self-sufficiency, strengthen regional trade ties, and attract long-term foreign investment in the oil and gas sector.
