Zambia Signs USD1.1 billion Deal for Crude Oil Refinery and Cassava Processing Hub

• Sommana Yan
• 30 July 2025
• Uncategorized
• 2081 Views

Zambia has entered into two significant agreements with Chinese firms for the construction of a USD 1.1 billion crude oil refinery and a large-scale cassava cultivation and processing project. The contracts were signed by Cornwell Muleya, CEO of Zambia’s Industrial Development Corp. (IDC), and Huang Tieming, president of Fujian Xiang Xin Corp.

The refinery, set to be built in Ndola, will have a processing capacity of 3 million tonnes of crude oil annually, aiming to meet the country’s current demand. Groundbreaking is slated for September 2025, with construction expected to generate 2,200 jobs and an additional 600 once operational.

The refinery will feature facilities for LPG bottling, bitumen production, lubricant blending, and a 130MW generation plant that will contribute 100 MW to the national grid. This initiative is anticipated to boost infrastructure investments and support various industries, including plastics and fertilizers.

Additionally, an agreement with PowerChina will launch the Cassava Circular Agro-Industrial Hub, focusing on cultivating and processing cassava into chemicals like ethanol and methanol. This project is expected to create around 1,100 industrial jobs and 20,000 agricultural jobs, promoting economic diversification in Zambia.

• Energy and Environment