DRC Minister of Hydrocarbons Visits SOCIR to Revitalize National Refining Activities
On Saturday, July 6, the Congolese Society of Refining Industries (SOCIR) in Moanda, located on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Congo River, welcomed Aimé Molendo Sakombi, the Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons. This visit marked his inaugural tour to engage with stakeholders in the oil sector of Kongo-central province.
Since 1999, SOCIR has operated solely as a storage and distribution facility for imported petroleum products, despite its initial mandate to refine national crude oil, revealed an anonymous company executive on site.
“We believe the minister’s visit can expedite the process of restarting refining operations,” expressed the executive with cautious optimism.
Restarting SOCIR’s refining operations is crucial for reducing the country’s reliance on imports and ensuring a stable supply of petroleum products.
Recent shortages in western DRC, including Kinshasa and central Kongo, have highlighted the urgency of this initiative, leading to increased public transport costs.
According to experts, SOCIR has the capacity to produce 750,000 tonnes of crude oil annually, sufficient to significantly meet national demand and foster a competitive environment in DRC’s oil market, currently dominated by foreign entities.
“Reviving SOCIR will also create employment opportunities, particularly for Congolese youth in Moanda and beyond,” noted the executive.
“The intensive and diverse nature of refinery activities—such as crude oil unloading, storage, desalination, and pretreatment—will require a substantial labor force.”
President Félix Tshisekedi expressed his commitment to revitalizing SOCIR during the 54th Council of Ministers meeting on May 20, 2022.
He emphasized SOCIR’s potential not only as a logistical hub but as a pivotal refinery to ensure a steady supply of petroleum products to the national market.
