Zambia to Build $1.1billion Crude Oil Refinery, Energy Complex

The Zambian government has finalized plans to build a $1.1 billion crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola, the country’s copperbelt.

This was contained in a statement released on Monday, which revealed the agreement was between Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation and Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation of China.

The proposed refinery is expected to process about 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It would be capable of providing enough refined products to satisfy the nation’s entire current fuel demand and potentially allow for future exports to neighboring countries.

Officials hope construction of the refinery will start in the third quarter of 2025, with a first phase of commercial operations planned for 2026.

An IDC spokesperson told Reuters the refinery would source crude from the Middle East and that it would be imported through the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam.

As well as fuel production, the planned energy complex will include units for liquefied petroleum gas bottling, bitumen production, lubricants blending and a 130-megawatt power plant.