Félix Tshisekedi dreams of providing the DRC with modern refineries, to end dependence in terms of the supply of finished petroleum products
By officially launching calls for tenders for the sale of oil and gas blocks on Thursday July 28, Felix Tshisekedi expressed his intention to provide the country with several modern refineries in order to generate more jobs for the population and make the DRC independent by terms of supply of finished petroleum products and fuels.
“In the event that the exploration phases allow us to update and then produce crude oil and/or gas, our dearest wish would consist, and this in accordance with our strategies, of relaunching productive sectors and processing local in that we build one or more modern refineries that they not only generate jobs for the population and create a value chain but also sources of independence in terms of the supply of finished petroleum products and fuels “said Felix Tshisekedi.
He also encouraged the start of discussions with neighboring countries for the construction of pipelines to transport fluids, in particular oil and gas, in order to transport the surplus of Congolese oil production to the international market.
“In addition, knowing that the DRC is a semi-landlocked country, the government should already start discussions with neighboring countries for the implementation of common infrastructure projects such as pipelines that can allow export the surpluses of our future oil production to the world market Among the blocks put up for tender are three gas blocks on Lake Kivu whose exploitation of the methane gas it contains would be an asset for the exploitation of electricity,” he said.
In the meantime, Greenpeace Africa denounces this sale of oil and gas blocks which risks endangering ecosystems since the project could affect protected areas, among other things. Twelve (12) other Congolese civil society organizations grouped within the “Dynamique POLE” also seized Félix Tshisekedi to ask him to suspend the process of the auction sale initiated by the State.
It should be noted that initially planned for 16 oil and gas blocks, the operation to launch calls for tenders for the acquisition and exploitation of oil and gas products will henceforth concern 30 blocks, including 27 oil blocks and 3 gas blocks. .
