Zambia has signed a $1.1 billion agreement with China’s Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation to build a new crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola. The project is expected to produce 60,000 barrels of oil per day and will play a key role in meeting Zambia’s fuel needs while also supplying neighbouring countries like the DRC, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.
Alongside the refinery, the complex will feature a 130-megawatt power plant, facilities for LPG bottling, bitumen production, and lubricant blending. Crude oil will be imported from the Middle East through the Port of Dar es Salaam and moved along the existing pipeline to Ndola. Construction is set to begin once environmental assessments and regulatory clearances are in place.
The project comes at a time when the region is adjusting to the shutdown of major South African refineries and looking to fill the supply gap. For Zambia, it marks a major step toward energy independence and industrial growth. Officials say the project will create hundreds of jobs and breathe new life into local supply chains.
