The Russian government has given the green light for the construction of a petroleum product pipeline in the Republic of Congo, furthering Moscow’s economic engagement in Africa.
The project will be executed through a joint venture between Russian pipeline constructor ZNGS Prometey, holding a 90% stake, and the National Petroleum Company of Congo.
While no specific construction timeline has been announced, the agreement is set to take effect 30 days after both parties complete necessary regulatory procedures.
Russian and Congolese officials are expected to sign a build-own-operate-transfer concession agreement within the next three months to finalize remaining details. The Republic of Congo is anticipated to provide tax incentives as part of the deal.
The pipeline, initially proposed in 2017 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will stretch from the southern energy center of Pointe-Noire to the northern region near the capital, Brazzaville. It is designed to operate for a minimum of 25 years.
