CRCC joins consortium to build Africa’s most advanced refinery in Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue (middle) standing with Chinese investors

Equatorial Guinea is set to construct a state-of-the-art refinery in Bata, in partnership with China Railway Construction Company (CRCC), one of the world’s largest construction firms.

CRCC, the parent company of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has an extensive portfolio, including the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s railway system and various ongoing infrastructure projects exceeding $20 billion.

The 20,000-barrel-per-day capacity refinery project commenced in August 2022 through a collaboration between the Government of Equatorial Guinea and Chinese investors Consolidated International Refinery Development Ltd. (CIRDL) and CRCC.

The Chinese investors are providing the majority of the funding for the project through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), enabling the government to allocate capital to other essential infrastructure projects across the country.

On November 21, 2023, the President of Equatorial Guinea officially announced the expropriation of land for the refinery site and subsequently agreed on compensation for the affected parties. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was completed on June 6, 2024.

Upon completion, the refinery is poised to be the most advanced in Africa, producing a full range of refined petroleum products—including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK)—all adhering to Euro 6 standards. Introduced on September 1, 2015, Euro 6 is the latest in a series of European Union regulations aimed at reducing vehicle emissions, setting stringent limits on pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter.

While it may not be the largest refinery in Africa, the Bata Oil Refinery will be unparalleled in quality, meeting both local demand and positioning Equatorial Guinea as a significant exporter of top-tier refined petroleum products. The facility will also produce asphalt and other petroleum derivatives in an integrated petrochemical plant, supporting the manufacturing of plastic containers, chairs, and tables.

This initiative exemplifies the vision of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue to transform Equatorial Guinea’s economy. The country boasts one of the highest GDPs per capita in Africa and is strategically developing into a major oil and gas hub, leveraging substantial gas reserves through flagship projects like the Gas Mega Hub (GMH).

Additionally, CRCC is constructing a storage tank farm for crude oil and petroleum products near the new refinery, further solidifying Equatorial Guinea’s status as a burgeoning energy leader on the continent.

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