Table of Contents
Key Points
- Aiteo inks EPC deal for 240,000 bpd refinery in Mozambique, aiming to cut fuel imports and boost regional energy supply.
- Mozambique refinery project strengthens Chapo’s industrial strategy, focusing on energy independence, cleaner fuels, and job creation.
- Aiteo expands regional footprint beyond Nigeria, deepens Southern African presence with refinery and gas investments in Mozambique.
Aiteo, one of Africa’s leading energy companies, has signed a major engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement to develop a 240,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Mozambique. The project is expected to significantly boost domestic fuel production, reduce import dependence, and establish the country as a key energy supplier in Southern Africa.
The announcement was made during a signing ceremony chaired by President Daniel Chapo, marking the formal start of a strategic partnership between Aiteo and the Government of Mozambique. The project reflects the administration’s efforts to attract high-impact energy investments and expand industrial infrastructure across the country, a direction shaped in part by Chapo’s long-term focus on energy independence and industrialization.
Aiteo partners with Petromoc in Mozambique
The new refinery will be developed as a joint venture between Aiteo US Corporation and Mozambique’s state-owned petroleum company, Petromoc. U.S.-based Deerfield Energy Services LLC, an established engineering firm, has been awarded the EPC contract, reflecting the project’s international scope and technical ambition.
Designed for phased development, the refinery will launch with an initial 80,000 bpd processing train and scale up to full capacity of 240,000 bpd. The facility will use low-complexity, modular technology to speed up deployment and ensure operational stability. Its output will include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha, with the potential to meet local demand and support growing regional trade.
Mozambique refinery project backs energy strategy
The project is also aligned with Mozambique’s long-term energy strategy, which emphasizes domestic refining capacity, industrial development, and job creation. Officials say it will expand access to cleaner fuels and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), helping address energy access and affordability, particularly in support of clean cooking initiatives.
“This EPC contract marks a defining milestone for Aiteo and Mozambique’s energy future,” said Dr. Ransome Owan, Group Managing Director for Infrastructure at Aiteo. “It will reduce import reliance, create jobs, and lay the foundation for Mozambique to become a leading hub in the region’s downstream energy sector.”
Energy deal strengthens regional capacity
Construction of the first phase is expected to be completed within 24 months. Once fully operational, the refinery will be among the largest of its kind in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), adding significant capacity to the regional energy landscape.
The deal reinforces the government’s push for transformative industrial partnerships and Aiteo’s commitment to long-term infrastructure development across Africa. It also highlights the strategic foresight of President Chapo, whose administration has prioritized energy infrastructure as a pillar of Mozambique’s economic transformation.
Aiteo expands regional energy influence
Aiteo, Africa’s largest privately owned integrated energy company, with operations across West and Southern Africa. In Nigeria, Aiteo runs key oil fields in the Niger Delta and Benue Trough, producing more than 90,000 barrels of oil per day. In the first quarter of 2024, it rolled out the Nembe crude oil grade in partnership with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
With its low sulfur content and unique API gravity, the Nembe crude oil grade has further deepened Nigeria’s position and influence in the global crude oil market. Aiteo’s flagship asset, the Nembe Creek field, also supplies a significant amount of natural gas for the country’s LNG operations on Bonny Island, helping to power both homes and industries.
Aiteo’s Mozambique bet gains ground
Beyond its operations in Nigeria, Aiteo is steadily expanding its presence across the region. Its latest move—a 240,000-barrels-per-day refinery project in Mozambique—is aimed at strengthening local fuel production, cutting down import dependence, and positioning Mozambique as a key energy supplier in Southern Africa. The company is also making headway in the country’s gas sector, taking the lead on the Mazenga gas asset.
These efforts reflect Aiteo’s goal of building a more diverse energy portfolio and deepening its footprint in sub-Saharan Africa’s onshore reserves. Last year, the company teamed up with The Atlantic Council’s Africa Center to support a major initiative focused on redefining Africa’s role in the global supply of critical minerals. Together, these moves speak to Aiteo’s long-term commitment to responsible growth and to shaping the future of energy across the continent.
