Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan toured Angola’s Luanda Refinery in April 2025, marking a significant diplomatic engagement focused on energy infrastructure. The high-profile visit highlights growing African cooperation in petroleum processing capacity development, as both nations look to strengthen their energy security through domestic refining capabilities.
During her comprehensive tour of the facility, President Hassan explored the refinery’s sophisticated processing units, advanced control systems, and ongoing expansion projects alongside Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo. Technical experts guided the delegation through the entire refining process, from crude intake to finished product distribution, demonstrating the technological innovation that has powered Angola’s refining renaissance.
The visit underscores Tanzania’s interest in replicating Angola’s refining success. Tanzania has been working to develop its own downstream petroleum sector following significant gas discoveries in recent years and continues to seek knowledge exchange opportunities with nations that have successfully scaled their refining operations.
Minister Azevedo highlighted the strategic importance of the refinery’s recent modernization efforts during discussions with President Hassan. “This facility represents Angola’s commitment to energy independence and value addition within our borders,” he noted during the presidential tour. “By quadrupling our production capacity, we’re not only meeting domestic demand but also positioning Angola as a regional refined products hub.”
The Luanda Refinery’s transformation has been remarkable by African standards. A newly inaugurated extension unit, which came online in 2024, has quadrupled the facility’s crude oil processing capacity. The refinery now produces 1.58 million liters of refined petroleum products daily, satisfying approximately 20% of Angola’s total domestic demand for fuels and other petroleum derivatives.
Energy analysts have noted that this represents a significant achievement in Africa’s ongoing effort to reduce dependence on imported refined products. The continent currently imports over 80% of its refined petroleum needs despite being home to several major crude oil producers.
The modernization initiative forms part of Angola’s broader national strategy to diversify its economy beyond crude oil exports while creating higher-value jobs in the downstream sector. Similar ambitions exist in Tanzania, where officials have repeatedly expressed interest in developing refining capacity to complement the country’s emerging natural gas industry.
Both presidents are expected to follow this technical exchange with formal discussions on potential collaboration in energy infrastructure development, technology transfer, and workforce training programs that could accelerate Tanzania’s petroleum downstream ambitions while strengthening bilateral relations between the two African nations.
Source: energycapitalpower.com
