The Nigerian founded crude oil producer and petroleum products trader, AITEO, has signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement to develop a 240,000 barrels of oil-per-day (BOPD) refinery in Mozambique.
The facility will be developed as a joint venture between AITEO US Corporation and Mozambique’s state-owned petroleum company, Petromoc, according to a statement by the Mozambican government. Deerfield Energy Services LLC, a U.S.-headquartered engineering firm, has been awarded the EPC contract, reflecting the project’s international scope and technical ambition, the statement notes.
The refinery is expected to launch with an initial 80,000BOPD processing train and scale up to full capacity of 240,000BOPD. 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 statement says that 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.
The Mozambican government has keyed into the project. Indeed, a signing ceremony marking the formal start of a strategic partnership between AITEO and the Government of Mozambique was chaired by President Daniel Chapo.
“The project reflects the administration’s efforts to attract high-impact energy investments and expand industrial infrastructure across the country”, the government noted.
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.”
