Luanda, March 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The new RAFINOLE vegetable oil refinery, a private investment of US$90 million (€76.6 million) was inaugurated on Monday in Luanda.
According to Angola's Minister of Industry and Trade, Rui Miguêns, the investment, with an annual production capacity of around 100,000 tonnes, 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 tonnes per year, as well as lines for the production of mayonnaise and other condiments, with a projected capacity of around 6,000 tonnes per year, the minister added.
Rui Miguêns, speaking at the inauguration ceremony for this factory located in the district of Cacuaco, Luanda province, said that RAFINOLE will also produce around 7,000 tonnes 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%," said the minister.
As for the production of mayonnaise and other condiments, it is still in the installation phase, with production scheduled to start in April this year. Vinegar production is already underway at the GIA industrial unit, which is currently operating at around 50% of capacity.
The minister stressed 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 domestic edible oil production has grown significantly in recent years, noting that between January and July 2024, production reached around 52,000 kilolitres, representing an increase of almost 200% compared to the same period in 2023, when approximately 18,000 kilolitres were recorded.
"This growth has enabled the country to achieve significant levels of productive autonomy, with an installed capacity that currently exceeds 1,300 tonnes per day of vegetable oil processing," he noted.
The Minister of Industry and Trade stressed that, despite the progress made, the government remains committed to further developing this value chain, with a particular focus on increasing national production of oilseeds, such as soybeans, sunflowers and other raw materials essential to the edible oil industry.
Speaking 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 have more production of soybeans and sunflowers in the field 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 facility, joining those that already exist in the country, Angola has gained the capacity to start exporting, adding that foodstuffs are essential and, with the investments made and other facilities that will also come into operation later this year, the country is managing to maintain price stability in its economy.
"Inflation is still heavily influenced by foodstuffs, and with the country now able to gain autonomy in food production and regular supply, we are seeing fewer drops in production and supply, which has also contributed to price stability in our economy," he said.
NME/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
