Angola’s Terminal Oceânico da Barra do Dande

Angola

Inaugurated by President João Lourenço in February 2025, the Terminal Oceânico da Barra do Dande (TOBD) is a cornerstone of Angola’s strategy to strengthen energy security and reduce its reliance on fuel imports.

Located in Bengo Province, the facility was developed by Sonangol to reinforce domestic supply resilience. It aligns with the National Development Plan 2023-2027 (PDN), which sets a target of 1.26 million cubic metres of inland fuel storage.

SPECIFICATIONS: The first phase of TOBD comprises 580,000 cubic metres of storage capacity, divided into 320,000 cubic metres of diesel, 160,000 cubic metres of gasoline and 120,000 cubic metres of LPG. The infrastructure includes 16 storage tanks and a 1,700-metre jetty, supported by over 500 metres of pipelines for fuel transfer. A planned second phase will expand total capacity to 728,500 cubic metres.

KEY PLAYERS: Sonangol is leading the project, with construction carried out by OEC. DAR Angola has overseen project supervision, while SOAPRO was responsible for inspection and environmental studies. On the day of the inauguration, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins signed partnership memoranda with nine companies including BP, Vitol, Trafigura, Gemcorp, Glencore and TotalEnergies.

INVESTMENT: The terminal has attracted a total investment of USD 642 million, with some estimates placing the final figure as high as USD 700 million. This covers not only construction but also logistics, safety and environmental infrastructure vital to long-term operation.

TIMELINE: Construction began in 2012 but was suspended in 2016. After a five-year delay, work resumed in 2021, leading to the inauguration in February 2025. The terminal is expected to begin operations in July 2025.

OTHER BENEFITS: TOBD has had a significant socio-economic impact in Bengo Province. Construction involved 2,847 workers, 97% of whom were Angolan nationals, with 70% from Bengo and nearby provinces. Women made up 11% of the workforce. The project is expected to drive regional development and support long-term employment in operations, logistics and fuel distribution.

MARKET OUTLOOK: With the completion of TOBD, Angola will surpass the PDN’s storage target and achieve a national capacity of 1.458 million cubic metres. The terminal will support the distribution of products from upcoming domestic refineries, reducing dependence on imports and increasing the country’s ability to meet internal demand. It also plays a central role in the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas’ broader agenda for modernising energy infrastructure and ensuring supply security.

“TOBD, as an asset 100% owned by Sonangol, is being positioned as Angola’s primary storage and distribution hub. Our strategy is for all imported products to arrive through TOBD and be distributed nationwide – by both land and sea.”

Mauro GRAÇA
CEO
SONANGOL DISTRIBUIÇÃO E COMERCIALIZAÇÃO

Read the full interview with Mauro Graça here.

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