The IRDP delegation will include Antonio Feijó, Deputy Director General; Nelson de Carvalho, Head of the Commercial Relations, Tariffs and Pricing Department; and Hamilton da Silva, Head of Inspection Department. Their participation comes as Angola works to translate major downstream investments into greater domestic supply, reduced reliance on imports and a more diversified oil and gas economy.

Responsible for regulating, controlling and supervising activities across Angola’s petroleum derivatives sector, IRDP plays a central role in improving access to petroleum products while ensuring quality standards, fair pricing and the long-term sustainability of market participants. A key priority is supporting the expansion of refining capacity and improving access to financing for companies operating across the downstream value chain.

In March 2026, the regulator convened commercial banks and downstream operators through its “Café com a Banca no Downstream” initiative, aimed at increasing financial-sector participation in petroleum derivatives projects. Discussions highlighted limited domestic production capacity, import dependence and foreign currency constraints as key challenges facing further downstream development.

Angola is addressing these constraints through a major expansion of domestic refining capacity. The Cabinda Refinery, Angola’s first new refinery build since independence, transitioned from testing to commercial operations in 2026, initially adding 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) of processing capacity. Inaugurated in September 2025, the facility is designed to expand to 60,000 bpd once fully operational.

Attention is now turning to the Lobito Refinery, which represents the next major milestone in Angola’s downstream development strategy. Designed with a processing capacity of 200,000 bpd, the project is expected to begin commissioning priority facilities in 2027 before reaching its full-conversion configuration in 2028. Once operational, Lobito is expected to produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products at scale, significantly strengthening Angola’s domestic supply capacity.

Alongside refining expansion, Angola is also developing its downstream gas value chain. IRDP data for the fourth quarter of 2025 shows that 128,591 metric tons of LPG entered the domestic market, with 64% of national production supplied by Angola LNG. LPG storage capacity reached 113,727 metric tons, while the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal helped increase Angola’s overall installed storage capacity to approximately 1.27 million cubic meters. Together, these developments support Angola’s efforts to monetize its gas resources, expand domestic fuel availability and strengthen energy security.

This downstream expansion reflects Angola’s broader strategy of using oil and gas infrastructure to support industrial development, economic diversification and greater domestic value creation. At AOG 2026, IRDP’s participation will provide an opportunity to discuss the regulatory frameworks, market structures, pricing mechanisms and investment partnerships needed to support a competitive and sustainable downstream sector.