Around Africa in seven stories

THE REPUBLIC of Congo has long suffered from chronic fuel shortages. In a bid to refine more oil within the country, President Dennis Sassou Nguesso has announced that a new, bigger refinery will be constructed near the port city of Pointe-Noire. The Atlantic Petrochemical Refinery is estimated to cost $600 million and will generate 2.5 million tonnes per year. Spread across 240 hectares, the facility will supply over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs. The project is the result of an investment agreement between the Congolese government and the Beijing fortune Dingheng Investment Co Ltd. Oil is the

Congo’s first source of export and the country ranks 37th in the world in terms of volumes of production. Hydrocarbons Minister Jean-Marc Thystere Tchicaya commented: “The refinery will produce automotive and aviation gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel, lubricants, bitumen, kerosene and other products.”