Oil & Gas

China Zambia Petrochemical Corporation (CZPC) is moving forward with its US$1.1 billion crude oil refinery project in Ndola after securing an Investment License from the Zambia Development Agency. The approval marks a critical milestone, clearing the way for full-scale implementation of one of Zambia’s most significant downstream energy investments.

The project is being developed through a Special Purpose Vehicle jointly formed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation (FJXX). It is expected to play a major role in job creation and regional economic stability within the Ndola Industrial Zone.

More than 2,200 jobs will be created during construction, while operations will sustain over 600 direct and more than 2,000 indirect jobs. Skills transfer and certified training programmes will help build local expertise in advanced petrochemical operations, strengthening Zambia’s energy security and reducing reliance on imported refined fuels.

Scheduled to begin operations next year, the refinery will have a processing capacity of 3 million tonnes of crude oil per year. This output will exceed Zambia’s domestic fuel requirements and position the country as a reliable supplier to regional export markets, enhancing its role in the Southern African energy landscape.

Designed as an integrated energy complex, the refinery will support downstream growth across multiple industries, including LPG bottling, bitumen production, and lubricants blending. Further investments are anticipated in storage facilities, rail infrastructure, and feedstock supply for manufacturing plastics, fertilisers, synthetic materials, and asphalt.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are also expected to benefit through expanded opportunities in logistics, maintenance, catering, and specialised support services, reinforcing the project’s broad-based economic impact.