Port-Gentil Refinery | Source: SOGARA Linkedin page
The SOGARA refinery in Port-Gentil is Gabon's sole petroleum refinery and the first refinery established in Central Africa. The refinery is designed primarily to process Rabi Light, Gabon's light, sweet crude variety, and is supplied via an 18 km pipeline connected to the Cap Lopez Oil Terminal.
Process Units & Capacity
Nameplate capacity: ~24,000 bpd (~1.2 million tonnes/year)
Typical operating rate: ~21,000 bpd, with historical operation at ~82% utilization
Products
The refinery produces unleaded gasoline, butane LPG, kerosene, diesel (gasoil), and atmospheric residue (AR). Current output covers approximately 55% of Gabon's domestic fuel demand, with the remainder imported.
Development Plans
SOGARA is pursuing a two-phase expansion program to modernize and significantly increase refining capacity. Axens served as main consultant on the completed Pre-FEED / Detailed Feasibility Study, and in April 2026, Technip Energies was awarded two FEED contracts covering: (1) debottlenecking and revamp of the existing refinery, including a new kerosene sweetening unit, four additional storage facilities, and a new marine jetty; and (2) a new modularized Hydrocracker Complex with onsite hydrogen production via Technip Energies' proprietary SMR technology. Both projects target compliance with Africa 5 low-sulfur fuel standards. The target is to approximately double capacity to ~40,000 bpd (~2.0 Mtpa) in Phase 1, with a longer-term Phase 2 target of ~2.7 Mtpa by 2030. Upon completion, SOGARA aims to meet full domestic demand and achieve profitability for the first time.
