Durban: Angola has proposed a meeting of SADC member states to be held in Benguela province to attract regional interest in financing the Lobito Refinery. The announcement was made by Foreign Affairs Minister T©te Ant³nio during the Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), currently taking place in Durban, South Africa. The initiative aims to mobilize regional financing to enhance Southern Africa's energy independence.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the proposal follows recommendations from the first SADC ministerial retreat, which reviewed the impact of the current international situation on the region. The retreat concluded in favor of Angola's suggestion for SADC member states to express interest in financing the Lobito Refinery. This initiative received a positive response, prompting joint efforts between Angola and the SADC Secretariat, with the involvement of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, and the Ministry of Energy and Water, to organize a meeting in Lobito.
The Lobito Refinery, located in Benguela province, is a strategic project for Angola and Southern Africa's economic integration. It is anticipated to start producing refined petroleum products by December 2027. With a capacity to process 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the refinery is one of Angola's major energy projects led by Sonangol. Its completion is expected to reduce Angola's dependence on imports of refined petroleum products, bolster national energy security, and establish Angola as a leading energy hub in Southern Africa. The refinery's strategic location along the Lobito Corridor adds a regional dimension, facilitating the supply of refined petroleum products to SADC markets and neighboring countries.
T©te Ant³nio also highlighted the inclusion of the Lobito Corridor on SADC's agenda. This corridor is part of regional integration and connectivity projects aimed at strengthening links between member states. The Lobito Corridor is considered alongside other development corridors, such as the North-South Corridor, to enhance regional connectivity.
In addition to energy and infrastructure discussions, the meeting addresses regional peace, security, and emergency situations, including the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The session, which concludes on Friday, focuses on strategic issues for advancing regional integration and sustainable development in Southern Africa, with priorities including industrialization, economic transformation, infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals processing.
The SADC Council of Ministers meeting also precedes the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held on 17 August in South Africa. Ministers are reviewing the organization's financial position, international geopolitical developments, and their implications for peace, security, and development in the region. They are also monitoring the implementation of SADC decisions and regional programs aimed at accelerating integration processes.
SADC, established in 1992, comprises 16 member states and is a key mechanism for regional cooperation and integration. Its objectives include promoting economic and social development, reducing poverty, deepening regional integration, and contributing to peace and stability in Southern Africa. Angola, a founding member of SADC, continues to play an active role in regional integration and peace and security initiatives across Southern Africa.
