Latest news with #AniborKragha
Zawya
04-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 to Highlight Growth Opportunities in Africa's Downstream Supply Chain
The upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum will host a high-level panel – Downstream Beneficiation: Supply Chain Development for Optimal Performance – as the continent aims to enhance energy security, reduce import dependence and maximize the value of its natural resources. The session will explore how the expansion of Africa's downstream sector can strengthen supply chains, enhance refining capacity and drive sustainable economic growth through infrastructure investment and strategic partnerships. As Africa's energy landscape evolves, optimizing downstream operations is critical to unlocking the full potential of the continent's natural resources. This session will focus on closing the infrastructure finance gap by addressing key challenges such as upgrading refineries, expanding storage and distribution networks, and developing service stations, bottling plants and transport fleets. Panelists will also examine the role of strategic hubs – such as Egypt's petrochemical industry, Equatorial Guinea's Gas Mega Hub and Algeria's emerging green hydrogen sector – in bolstering Africa's supply chain efficiency, along with key regional projects like the Central African Pipeline System and the Lobito Corridor linking Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. IAE 2025 ( is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@ Moderated by James Gooder, VP Crude, Argus Media, the panel will feature industry leaders offering key insights into Africa's downstream sector. Speakers include Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, African Refiners&Distributors Association; Tarik Berair, Commercial Development Manager, Technip Energies; Fernando Covas, Executive Director, S&P Global Commodity Insights; James Bullen, Head of Downstream, Petredec and Michael Kelly, Chief Advocacy Officer, World Liquid Gas Association. Africa's downstream investment climate is undergoing significant transformation, with several major projects driving the sector's growth including Nigeria's 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery, Angola's 200,000-bpd Lobito and 100,000-bpd Soyo refineries, and Algeria's 100,000-bpd Hassi Messaoud Refinery. Despite recent refinery closures, South Africa also maintains a well-developed fuel distribution network, retail stations and petrochemical production, while Mozambique is emerging as a key LNG hub, with the Coral South FLNG project already operational and the Rovuma LNG and Mozambique LNG projects currently under development. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in securing adequate financing for infrastructure upgrades and supply chain expansion. Addressing these gaps will require coordinated efforts from governments, private investors and industry stakeholders to develop resilient and efficient downstream operations. The IAE 2025 downstream panel will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss actionable strategies that ensure Africa's energy sector remains competitive, sustainable and responsive to global demand. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Zawya
27-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 Panel Underscores Congo's Potential to Meet Regional Petroleum Demand
The Republic of Congo is well-positioned to contribute toward regional demand for petroleum, given the country's operating Congolaise de Raffinage (CORAF) refinery and strategic geographic location. A downstream panel discussion at the Congo Energy&Investment Forum 2025 highlighted that the modernization of CORAF and future downstream investments can support growing demand for fuel, as Central Africa's population is expected to rapidly grow. 'Congo's population is expected to add five million people by 2050. Geographically, the country is also blessed to be situated next to the DRC. So, you have a massive market right here. I am excited to get to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) [in Congo], but most people don't see crude oil: they use jet fuel, diesel and by-products. We need to talk about infrastructure investments,' stated Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners&Distributors Association. The Republic of Congo's ambitions to increase oil and gas output to 500,000 bpd and three million tons per annum (mtpa), respectively, coincide with a drive to enhance fuel security in both the country and broader region. At present, the country's CORAF refinery has a processing capacity of one mtpa, converting crude oil into finished products such as butane gas, gasoline, kerosene and light diesel. 'CORAF was designed to work with one million tons of crude petroleum. Today, it continues to satisfy the needs of the local market, catering for between 65% to 70% of demand while the rest is imported to help the country. CORAF is in the process of being modernized in order to increase its production capacity,' stated Richard Ngola, Managing Director: Downstream, Ministry of Hydrocarbons, Republic of Congo. This modernization started in 2015, when the need to improve operating units became prevalent. According to Patrice Yao, Deputy Administrator at CORAF, 'We designed a development plan to enable new units to be installed and to modernize the piloting system. When the units are old, you have the challenge of maintenance, technological issues and human resources. New units enabled an increase in processing capacity.' However, Yao believes that this is not enough, and the country needs to increase the quantity of products for the national market while investing in new downstream projects. To increase downstream capacity, the government has initiated the construction of a second facility: the Atlantic Petrochemical Refinery. This facility – developed in partnership with Beijing Fortune Dingheng Investment – will have a capacity of 2.3 mtpa in the first phase, focusing on high-quality gasoline and diesel. Set to start operations in late-2025, the refinery will provide a much-needed boost for the country's downstream sector. However, Kragha noted that downstream investments need to go beyond refining. 'You need to look not only at the refinery expansion but the supporting infrastructure to be able to deliver on your objectives,' he said. The inaugural Congo Energy&Investment Forum, taking place March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, brings together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Zawya
13-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Speak at Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025, Downstream Projects in Focus
The Republic of Congo's commitment to reducing imports and driving electrification has positioned the country at the forefront of a robust intra-African oil and gas industry. As Africa undertakes a strategic approach to harmonizing fuels standards, coordinating regional regulations and expanding an inclusive downstream sector, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary and CEO of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) will participate at the inaugural Congo Energy&Investment Forum (CEIF) this month in Brazzaville. With the first 25 MW turbine of the Djeno Power Plant scheduled to commence operations in March 2024, the Republic of Congo is well positioned to modernize its downstream infrastructure and address energy insecurity in the country. Traditionally powered by oil, the plant – operated by Aksa Enerji – has been transitioned to natural gas, which is sourced from energy major Eni's Marine XII and M'Boundi fields. The inaugural Congo Energy&Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country. The Congolaise de Raffinage (CORAF), a subsidiary of the state-owned Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), operates the only refinery in Congo. Situated in Pointe-Noire, CORAF has an annual processing capacity of one million tons and refines crude oil into various products, including butane gas, gasoline, kerosene, light diesel and heavy fuel oil. This refinery meets roughly 70% of the nation's demand for refined petroleum products. Most of the crude oil processed at CORAF is supplied from the Djeno terminal, situated south of Pointe-Noire, which handles 95% of the country's oil production. The terminal is connected to the refinery by a 25km pipeline. To meet the increasing domestic demand and reduce dependence on imports, the government has begun the construction of a new refinery in Fouta, near Pointe-Noire. This new facility, called the Atlantic Petrochemical Refinery, is being developed in collaboration with Chinese company Beijing Fortune Dingheng Investment, with an estimated investment of $600 million. The first phase of the project aims for a production capacity of 2.5 million tons per year, focusing on high-quality gasoline and diesel, as well as domestic products such as LPG, kerosene and fuel oil. Operations for the Atlantic Petrochemical Refinery are expected to begin by the end of 2025. Highlighting the fundamental need to invest more heavily in downstream infrastructure, Kragha recently indicated that up to 60% of the African energy matrix will be fossil fuel driven by 2040. With a view to reducing petroleum imports and driving resource monetization throughout the continent, ARDA has noted that expanding the downstream sector will require coordinated regional regulations, market-based pricing and a focus on minimizing supply chain risks. 'Anibor Kragha's participation at the inaugural CEIF event is a key opportunity to gain valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to modernize Congo's energy and infrastructure sectors. Kragha brings a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective on the importance of upgrading downstream facilities to ensure energy security and sustainable development and his contributions will be instrumental in driving economic growth, enhancing energy access and advancing regional cooperation,' states Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director at Energy Capital&Power. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Zawya
07-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) to Weigh in on Africa's Refining Future at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025
Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, African Refiners&Distributors Association (ARDA), is confirmed to speak at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris this May, sharing insights on the critical developments and opportunities shaping the future of refining and distribution across the continent. ARDA, a key player in advancing Africa's refining capabilities, is at the forefront of enhancing the region's downstream infrastructure to meet growing energy demand and fuel economic development. With a focus on improving refining capacity, expanding distribution networks and driving cleaner fuels adoption, ARDA is working to modernize the sector through strategic collaborations, policy advocacy and industry innovation. This includes ARDA's comprehensive roadmap to modernize refineries, enhance distribution logistics and promote cleaner fuel solutions, positioning Africa as a key player in the global energy market. IAE 2025 ( is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@ Kragha's participation at IAE 2025 comes at a pivotal moment as Africa's refining sector prepares for significant growth. In Nigeria, the Dangote Oil Refinery, Africa's largest crude processing facility, is on track to reach full operational capacity this March, processing 650,000 barrels per day (bpd). Expected to meet 100% of Nigeria's demand for all refined petroleum products, the refinery recently made its first purchase of Algeria's light sweet Saharan Blend crude, marking a milestone for intra-African crude trading. South Africa has also announced plans to rehabilitate and expand the capacity of the Sapref refinery to 600,000 bpd, emphasizing the country's need for a mega refinery and seeking regional partnerships to develop one. Angola is developing three new refineries to boost capacity, with the 60,000 bpd Cabinda refinery scheduled to start operations in July 2025. Additionally, the Fouta Refinery in the Republic of Congo, designed to produce 2.5 million tons of petroleum products per year, is expected to be operational by the end of this year. With a focus on addressing the challenges of energy demand, improving fuel quality and ensuring sustainability, ARDA is playing a crucial role in facilitating the transformation of the sector. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
