AfrOil: Angolan MPs vote on downstream, exploration projects

The government of Angola has announced plans to reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products. To this end, legislators have authorised President João Lourenço to offer special incentives for the construction of the Cabinda refinery.

MPs also voted last week to lift a ban on oil and gas exploration in two environmentally sensitive onshore basins, Kassanje and Okavango. Environmental activists are worried that the decision may violate international agreements, since Angola uses donor funding to cover the cost of habitat protection campaigns.