A new vegetable oil refinery (RAFINOLE) opened on Monday (9) in Luanda, Angola, the result of a private investment of $90 million, with a production capacity of up to 400 tons per day.
According to Angola’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Rui Miguêns, the investment, with an annual production capacity of around 100,000 tons, will operate with four continuous production lines dedicated to the refining and packaging of edible oil.
This unit also has industrial capacity for the production of margarine and vegetable fats, estimated at 18,000 tons per year, as well as lines for the production of mayonnaise and other condiments, with a projected capacity of around 6,000 tons per year, the minister added.
Rui Miguêns, who was speaking at the inauguration ceremony for this factory located in the municipality of Cacuaco, Luanda province, said that RAFINOLE will also produce around 7,000 tons of vinegar per year.
“Part of this capacity is already in operation: refining and bottling are operating at around 70% of installed capacity, while the production of margarine and vegetable fats is operating at around 40%,” the minister said.
As for the production of mayonnaise and other condiments, it is still in the installation phase, with production scheduled to begin in April this year. Vinegar production is already underway at the Angola Investment Office (GIA) industrial unit, which is currently operating at around 50% capacity.
The minister emphasized that 130 direct jobs have been created, “filled by Angolan citizens,” with almost 400 direct jobs expected to be created by the end of this year.
The Angolan minister highlighted that national edible oil production has grown significantly in recent years, noting that between January and July 2024, production reached around 52,000 kiloliters, representing an increase of almost 200% compared to the same period in 2023, when approximately 18,000 kiloliters were recorded.
“This growth has enabled the country to achieve significant levels of productive autonomy, with an installed capacity that currently exceeds 1,300 tons per day of vegetable oil processing,” he noted.
The Minister of Industry and Trade stressed that, despite the progress made, the Executive remains committed to further developing this value chain, with a special focus on increasing national production of oilseeds, such as soybeans, sunflowers, and other raw materials essential to the edible oil industry.
In statements to the press, the Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano, expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, which in the field of edible oil allows the country to have a level of autonomy in refining.
“We must continue to work on integration, because the oil that is refined here is still imported, so we will need to increase production of soybeans and sunflowers in the countryside and allow processing to take place with even greater security in this exercise that the country is undertaking to replace imports and strengthen exports,” he said.
José de Lima Massano stressed that, with this unit, joining those that already exist, Angola has gained the capacity to start exporting “safely,” adding that foodstuffs are essential and that with the investments made, with other units also coming into operation later this year, the country will be able to maintain price stability in its economy.
“Inflation continues to be strongly influenced by foodstuffs. However, as we gain greater autonomy in food production, with a more regular supply and fewer production losses, this can contribute to price stability in our economy.”
Source: Lusa
