SUMMER 2009 INSIDE: oil and gas news Angola welcomes Benedict XVI Phoenix rising Ten-page report on Huambo As old as T-Rex The amazing welwitschia Our Father Universo

SONANGOL UNIVERSO ISSUE 22 – SUMMER 2009 SU_22-cover:Layout 1 18/5/09 11:28 Page 1 Page 11:28 1 18/5/09 SU_22-cover:Layout SU22.contents.pp2-3:SU21 18/5/09 11:33 Page 2

CONTENTS

8 18 Universo is the international magazine of Sonangol Sonangol News

Board Members Manuel Vicente (President), 40 Anabela Fonseca, Mateus de Brito, Fernando Roberto, Francisco de Lemos

Sonangol Department for Communication & Image Director João Rosa Santos

Corporate Communications Assistants Nadiejda Santos, Lúcio Santos, Cristina Novaes, José Mota, Beatriz Silva, Paula Almeida, Sandra Teixeira, Marta Sousa

Publisher Sheila O’Callaghan

Editor Kamene M Traça Alex Bellos 6 24 Art Director David Gould Sub Editor Ron Gribble Advertising Design Bernd Wojtczack Circulation Manager Matthew Alexander Group President iStockphoto.com Photolibrary CIRO FUSCO/epa/Corbis John Charles Gasser Kamene M Traça Project Consultant Nathalie MacCarthy 4 Letter from the editor 8 Huambo in bloom 18 The day the Pope 38 Sonangol 44 Refine time In a ten-page feature we look at came to Angola news briefing Focus on the $8 billion Universo is produced by Impact Media reconstruction work in Huambo, Benedict XVI flew in to Luanda Angolan Oil Minister José project for a refinery in Custom Publishing. The views expressed in 5 Readers’ letters the publication are not necessarily those of Angola’s second city, and see how on the first African trip of his Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos Lobito, which will make Sonangol or the publishers. Reproduction in 6 Angola news briefing far it has come since the end of the Papacy. Louise Redvers was there conducts his first meeting as Angola self-sufficient in whole or in part without prior permission is Luanda hosts first housing civil war. Residents like Idalina president of Opec; Sonangol refined petrol products. We prohibited. forum; Emirates is latest airline Chimuanga, pictured below, talk 24 Gold, chocolate and oil and Portuguese bank CGD set speak to Anabela Fonseca, This magazine is distributed to a closed to fly to Angola; state bank about their hopes for the future Nicholas Wadhams on Ghana’s up investment bank joint who is in charge of the project circulation. To receive a free copy: issues treasury bonds in preparations to be Africa’s newest venture during first Angolan and the only woman on [email protected] kwanzas; Cuban President Raúl 17 oil producer state visit in Lisbon; Sonangol Sonangol’s board Circulation: 17,000 Castro makes official visit to among the bidders for a Luanda; traffic laws introduced 28 Old man of the desert contract in Iraq; São Tomé 50 The Big Picture to reduce accidents on the roads; The welwitschia, which lives in and Príncipe deal close; A map of the four railway US grants Angola $120m credit the Namibe desert, is one of the helping those hit by floods; lines in Angola with details facility; business parks planned strangest plants in the world new laboratory opens at Sonils of plans to restore them to 53 Chandos Place, for all 18 provinces their former glory. It is hoped London WC2N 4HS 34 G-force 40 Full steam ahead that the Angolan lines will Tel + 44 20 7812 6400 Fax +44 20 7812 6413 7 Figured out An interview with Angolan Excerpts from Sonangol chief eventually be connected to [email protected] A snapshot of Angola in R&B singing sensation Paul G, executive Manuel Vicente’s the networks of neighbouring numbers nominated for a top award annual speech to journalists countries Cover: Ciro Fusco/epa/Corbis Kamene M Traça

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OVERVIEW READERS’ LETTERS

Eye-popping pictures Dear Sir I very much enjoyed the article about Angolan postage stamps featured in the last edition of Universo, as I did the reports on Luanda’s art scene and the Fundação Sindika Dokolo published in the previous edition. These are stories that Alex Bellos many people do not know about until brought to their attention by your magazine. Total has been present in Letter from the editor Angola for many years and we believe it is very important to support the country culturally as well as economically. That Hinterland to the fore was one of the reasons why, in conjunction with the Total Foundation for Biodiversity, we ost foreigners working in Angola rebuilding of the road network means that Secondly, Angola’s President José sponsored the Os Abismos exhi- only know one city: Luanda. It Huambo is only five hours by car from Eduardo dos Santos made his first state bition of underwater photogra- Mis where the international Luanda – less than half the time than the visit to Portugal. During the visit, the phy at Luanda’s Natural History planes land, where the multinational journey used to take. presidents of both countries announced Museum this year. The photo- companies are largely based and where Huambo is also a stop on the the creation of a development bank graphs remind us of the hidden about a quarter of the country’s 13 million Benguela Railway, which once connected jointly funded by Sonangol and the beauty in the oceans around us. people live. the Angolan Atlantic coast to what is now Portuguese state-run Caixa Geral de I hope that your readers were Luanda’s position as a safe haven the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the Depósitos. able to enjoy the exhibition and during the civil war meant that its popula- inside back pages we print a map of the Despite the global economic down- I look forward to reading about tion rocketed. Hundreds of thousands of four railways in Angola with details of the turn, Sonangol is continuing with its the next cultural event in your the Angolans fled there from areas inland renovation work that is being done on major investments in Angola – such as I can see inside your mind: pages. glass squid, which lives in the beset by fighting. them. In the next few years more than a the new refinery in Lobito. We interview deep oceans of the Southern André Teixeira, In this issue of Universo, however, we thousand kilometres of track are due to Anabela Fonseca, the only woman on hemisphere, can grow to about Communication Division, show that Angola is much more than just come into use. Sonangol’s board, who is in charge of the 20cm in length. The image was in Total E&P Angola the capital. Over ten pages we print a South of Huambo, near the border refinery project. We also include extracts the Os Abismos exhibition.

special report on Huambo – the nation’s with Namibia, the landscape becomes from Sonangol chief Manuel Vicente’s Peter Batson, ExploreTheAbyss.com second city. Huambo was caught up in hotter and more arid. The desert here is annual speech to journalists. When asked some of the worst fighting of the war. Now home to a remarkable inhabitant: the whether the financial crisis will have any Flying high

there is peace, the city is reviving. welwitschia, one of the world’s most impact on the company’s activities, he Dear Sir Kamene M Traça Huambo may receive less attention fascinating plants. It is believed that the was bullish. Referring to investments in I was interested to read your feature on Angola’s and financial support than Luanda, but it welwitschia may live for up to 2,000 years. the refinery project, in the expansion of booming aviation industry. I have recently moved has advantages over the capital and in The resilience and peculiar beauty of the the fuel distribution network and in stock, to Luanda and have never seen such an in-de- many ways is a much nicer place to live in. plant has made it a national symbol. he replied: “These investments will not mand route for business travellers. It is good news Situated in the central highlands, it has a Since our last issue appeared, two slow down. On the contrary, they will that even more airlines are now flying to Luanda less harsh climate and it is a lot less significant events have taken place. First, be increased.” and this should bring down the cost of flights. crowded. It is a city of parks, tree-lined the Pope visited Angola. Our reporter Angola currently has only one When TAAG returns to flying in Europe, this streets and open spaces. Louise Redvers was there and witnessed refinery, in Luanda. The decision to build will also increase the competition and benefit Much of Huambo’s future success will extraordinary scenes including a Mass the second one in Lobito reinforces the travellers. The upgrade of the airport is also much depend on its transport links. The city is that was seen by about a million people. point that regeneration is happening on a needed and very welcome. We welcome your opinions. If you would like to have a letter published, please email surrounded by fertile land that used to be Angola has the highest percentage of large scale in the rest of the country too. Henrique Almeida, [email protected]. Letters may a centre of agriculture – and hopefully will Catholics than of any country in Africa, a Luanda be edited for length. be again in the years to come. Already the result of Portuguese colonisation. [email protected]

4 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 5 SU22.Angola News.pp6-7:SU22 18/5/09 11:32 Page 6

Figured Angola news briefing out Million homes More than 700 people attended the first national Wind power housing forum at Luanda’s Palácio dos Congres- Angola could start producing electricity sos. Opening the event, President José Eduardo from wind power, according to João 460.3 kg dos Santos acknowledged Angola’s lack of Baptista Borges, Deputy Minister of weight of a marlin fish caught housing and said it was one of his government’s Energy. He made the announcement during the Lobito Big Game Fishing biggest challenges. He reaffirmed his election during a visit to Angola by Dutch Econ- tournament pledge to build a million homes in the next four omy Minister Maria van der Hoeven. The years. President dos Santos said the problems of pair discussed the development and people living in crowded and disorganised urban modernisation of the energy sector. areas could lead long-term to social instability Holland already has vast experience of 60 per cent and that everything possible must be done to help wind power, and there is a plan to estab- provide better housing. The event was attended lish technical contracts between the reduction of imports of bottled by MPs, ministers, regional and traditional authori- nations in order to carry out studies and water and juices aimed for by Coca- ties, civil-society members, banks and construc- evaluations. At the same meeting, Borges Cola which will invest in bottling the tion companies. There were presentations and said the Angolan government hoped by products in Angola instead discussions about all topics, from building more 2010 to have electricity in all urban areas, housing, particularly for low-income families, to in 60 per cent of peri-urban areas and in finding ways to reduce high construction costs. 30 per cent of rural areas. iStockphoto.com Carlos Moco In credit The name is bond $1.7 b n Strong allies The United States has granted Angola a $120 Blue skies For the first time, the National the value of the credit line from Cuban President Raúl Castro visited Angola in February to underline the million credit facility to be used for importing More airlines are flying to Angola. Bank of Angola is to issue treasury Germany to Angola – confirmed strong co-operation between the two countries. Castro, who took over from US products and services, ranging from oil sector The newest arrival is Emirates, which bonds in kwanzas in a bid to create after President José Eduardo dos his ailing brother Fidel nearly three years ago, held talks with President requirements to farming equipment. The arrangement is launching a three-times-a-week longer-term stability in the national Santos visited Germany in March José Eduardo dos Santos and attended a special session of the National will be used in short-and-medium term private direct service between Dubai and currency. The authorisation was given at Assembly. Cuba’s relationship with Angola began in 1976 soon after libera- sector transactions. “This credit facility will provide Luanda. The flights will leave Dubai a meeting of the government’s cabinet. tion from the Portuguese and they were strong allies during the civil war, Angola’s private sector expedited access to top-quality on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, Finance Minister Severim de Morais sending thousands of troops to support the ruling MPLA. Over the last 30 American goods and services, including sectors returning the same day from Luanda. said: “It is a tool of budgetary, monetary the number of years of years, more than 10,000 Cuban doctors and health workers, as well as beyond oil and gas,” said US Ambassador to KLM is hoping to be the next inter- and fiscal policy to reduce the effects of peace celebrated in Angola 16,500 teachers, have come to Angola, while more than 18,000 Angolans Angola Dan Mozena. “This is especially timely as national airline to fly to Luanda. the economic and financial crisis.” The on April 4, 2009 Angola continues its massive reconstruction kwanza-dollar exchange rate has been 7 have studied on the Caribbean island. Negotiations for a Luanda to Amster- programme so that more Angolans can share in dam service are at an advanced stage. steady for over a year at around 75 Forever comrades: Castro and dos Santos the country’s tremendous natural wealth.” Lufthansa has also expressed an inter- kwanzas to the dollar. The UK also extended credit to Angola worth $70 est in increasing its flight frequency. million through its Export Credits Guarantee Angola’s national airline TAAG remains Belt up Department. Pat Phillips, the British Ambassador blacklisted from flying in Europe be- New traffic laws have been introduced to Angola, said the investments would be directed $72bn cause of safety concerns, but it hopes in Angola to get tough with bad drivers amount of bilateral trade between into “capital projects” across the private sector to the ban will be lifted by July. Egypt and make the country’s roads safer. There China and Angola in 2007, an help the country diversify its economy away from and Nigeria have also had discussions are fines of more than $1,000 for a variety of increase from $10 billion in 2000 diamonds and oil. about air links. offences including speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using mobile phones while Driving force driving. The speed limit for cars within New countrywide business parks are being created, Luanda will be 60kmph, and 50kmph for giving all 18 provinces logistic hubs to drive develop- buses and lorries. Pedestrian crossings must 3 per cent ment and investments. Angola Business Park is a $700 be observed and yellow boxes painted on Government’s predicted growth rate million scheme by the Drago Group. The first park will be the roads at junctions cannot be blocked. for the Angolan economy in 2009 called Lunda Norte Business Park and built in the city of Traffic police are also cracking down on Dundo over the next two years. Developments in Luanda poorly maintained vehicles, and checking

BRUNO FONSECA/epa/Corbis and Huambo will follow next. Photolibrary indicator lights and rear-view mirrors.

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HUAMBO

Park life: Huambo is famous for its open spaces HUAMBO

INLouise BLOOMRedvers reports on the renaissance of Angola’s second city ➔ Kamene M Traça

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HUAMBO

City centre: Huambo’s main square and (below) its green lungs

ith its public parks, open- painted over, and there are ambitious plans fronted villas and pavement for new residential, hotel and office-block W cafés, Huambo feels more schemes. European than African. Add the People who fled during the worst of the Mediterranean climate and the tree-lined fighting in the 1990s are slowly returning to streets and you can see why the Portuguese their homeland and there is a new buzz called the city Nova Lisboa (New Lisbon) about the city. “Huambo has a lot of poten- after their own capital. tial,” says Licínio Assis, Angolan board Located in the country’s lush central member of the Portuguese real estate firm highlands, among hundreds of thousands Grupo Imocom which is behind a number of hectares of rich agricultural land and of construction and business schemes connected to the coast by the Benguela in the city, including a 40-apartment railway, Huambo was once a wealthy and residential and shopping complex and a successful city and was even tipped to water- bottling plant. replace Luanda as the country’s capital. Decades of war, however, stunted Well designed Huambo’s ambitions of greatness. The city “There is a lot of money going to Huambo, was a major flashpoint between the ruling and it’s becoming a real alternative MPLA and the rebel group Unita and it saw to Luanda in terms of business and some of the worst fighting in the country. investment. We have to stop thinking just Its beautiful buildings were devastated, the about Luanda; there is more to Angola than countryside peppered with landmines, and Luanda,” says Assis. Pics: Kamene M Traça hundreds of thousands of people were What Huambo lacks in services, it driven from their homes. more than makes up for in space and But today after almost a decade of greenery. “Huambo was properly designed peace with a stable political and economic by architects,” says Assis. “Luanda, on the outlook, Huambo is getting the chance to other hand, just sort of happened. The shine once more. The quirky 1950s Portuguese arrived, settled and built things, Portuguese architecture is being restored, but Huambo was planned first and that’s the bullet holes are being filled in and why it’s so well designed.” 

There is a lot of money going to Huambo. We have to stop thinking just about Luanda; there is more to Angola “than Luanda Licínio Assis, Grupo Imocom real estate 10 SONANGOL UNIVERSO ” SUMMER 2009 11 SU22.Huambo.pp8-17:SU22 18/5/09 11:35 Page 12

HUAMBO HUAMBO

With all the rehabilitation and development, this city in Deolindo Henrique Barbosa, “It’s a good place to live” the next five years will be completely new Huambo Deputy Governor

Gregório de Jesus Tchikola, 30, grew up City sights in Huambo but left in 1993 when the fight- ing was at its worst. Now he is back home “teaching English at the Fisk Language School. “There’s a lot of development here. It’s starting to look like a very attractive city again – like a phoenix rising from the ashes ” ready for a new beginning,” he explains. “Huambo is not just in the centre of the country, it’s the heart of the country. Huambo has potential; it has everything – life, young people, education and many in- tellectuals. Huambo is like a springboard for development.” Transport links A major part of this springboard is the improved transport links. A new road means the driving time between Huambo and Luanda is now around five hours, down from 12, and a tarmac link between Lubango and Huambo is set to be finished by 2010, opening the city to fast connec- tions with the coast and onwards to the border with Namibia. The Benguela railway that previously ran through Huambo to the port of Lobito is also being renovated (see page 50) with a eacher Fidele Poutou came have the problems here that you construction, of new houses and plan for it to continue on across the border from Cabinda to Huambo in have in Luanda with the traffic, the offices and hotels. into Zambia, and there are plans to build a T 1996 to help with French and overcrowding and the noise. “Quite a few people are coming dry port along the line near Huambo to be English interpreting for the UN “Even when it rains here, it’s not back here from Luanda, some from serviced by this railway line. peacekeeping force. Thirteen a problem. The city is well designed other places in Angola and from In a recent interview, Huambo’s years later, he’s still here and and it’s not too full, so after heavy abroad because they are hearing it’s a Deputy Governor Deolindo Henrique very much counts the city as rain, the next day it’s OK again, not good place to live.” Barbosa said he wanted Huambo “to be one his home. like in Luanda where rain always The married father-of-one, who of the most important transportation axes “Huambo is called the causes chaos.” teaches English and French to pre-uni- in the country”. He added: “I believe with all second city of Angola, Poutou, 39, says he remembers the versity students, says he has noticed a the rehabilitation and development, this but for me it’s the Huambo from the war and has seen change in people’s feelings too. “I’m city in five years will be completely new.” first,” he says. “The a dramatic change in recent years. seeing in my students a new can-do Take a walk through the city centre climate is good and “When I first came here, the city attitude. They want to learn English today and it’s hard not to believe him. Giant we have good was in a bad way. Many buildings and French because they want to work billboards advertising new residential and schools and univer- were destroyed and there were and make changes to their lives. hotel complexes beam down over sities. It’s very many problems, but in the last When I first came here, people manicured public squares, and colonial cosmopolitan and it three to four years we’ve really never talked about the future. They government buildings are being returned to has this European seen some development. You’re weren’t able to think beyond the pres- their former glory. but also international seeing big businesses coming ent, but now it’s all about the future. There are still many bullet-marked feeling. It’s different here, wanting to invest and to It’s not just the physical structures buildings, but week by week and month by to the rest of the share in the development oppor- which are changing in Huambo; it’s the month, these are being restored or replaced country; we don’t tunities. There is a lot of new mentalities of the people too.”

with new structures. Thanks to the  Pics: Kamene M Traça

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HUAMBO HUAMBO

Modern complex: The $450m “This is a city that has a future” Lake Park development

elsa Simão was born in Huambo and has no plans N to leave. The 22-year-old works in a clothes store next to the new market but hopes to become one of the first students to study medicine at the city’s newly opened medical faculty. “Huambo has seen a lot of changes in my lifetime,” she says. “During the war it was a very sad place and everything was totally destroyed. There were no cars, no power, no water, nothing. But now that we have everything it’s a much happier place today. “There are five universities here now so it’s a good place to be a student. I want to study medicine and I’m happy that I can do that in Huambo and don’t have to leave my family and travel to Luanda.” Simão, who is married and has a three-year-old son, lives in the Cidade Alta, the upper city. “This is a good place to live. There’s space, you’re free to walk around and there’s not much crime. There’s a much nicer atmosphere here. We have nightclubs now, cinemas, restaurants and the theatre. A lot

has changed since the war. This is Pics: Monte Adriano a city that has a future and we are pleasant climate and clean wide While there are a number of expatriate with haphazard townships stretching out all looking forward, not back to the pavements, everyone in Huambo – with the businessmen like Pires in Huambo, there from around the ordered centre. To help past. More and more people who exception of those brave enough to use the are also plenty of Angolan businesses and reduce this squeeze and improve living left during the war years are motorbike taxis– seems to walk. that number will grow further with the conditions, 4,500 new homes are planned coming back because they want “I walk everywhere,” says Manoel restoration of the industrial park at Caála, and more than 1,500 hectares have been to live here again.” Pires, a Brazilian who runs the language 20 kilometres from the city centre. The earmarked for dedicated social housing. school where Tchikola teaches. “You just other big project is the rehabilitation of the Huambo is also developing its intellec- don’t need a car here unless you want to Gove Dam, which will eventually produce tual capacity and by the end of 2009 will leave the city. It’s so nice, and not like electricity for Huambo and Bié provinces. have five universities, including the Luanda where you’re stuck in traffic all the These schemes will generate jobs in country’s only faculty of agriculture and time and can’t get anywhere. the construction phase and also offer veterinary studies. The medical institute, “We started the school in Huambo long-term employment opportunities for which closed during the war, reopened this because it was easier to do business here. people in Huambo. year and a new polytechnic is expected to We are seeing more and more students start taking students in the coming months. every year. I think the fact that so many New homes There will be a focus on technical people want to learn English is a real reflec- With one million of the province’s 2.5 mil- courses to train people in skills needed for tion that the city is developing and wanting lion population living within the city limits, local industries such as the railway,

Kamene M Traça to move forwards.” there is increasing pressure on housing, the hydroelectricity plant and general 

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HUAMBO HUAMBO

construction. One of the new construction Green city projects that will generate a significant “Our city is going to be beautiful” number of jobs for the province is called Parque de Lago (Lake Park). The $450 million staged development will cover 150,000 square metres of land next to the airport and, as well as apart- ments, eventually include a four-star hotel, office space, exhibition and conference fa- cilities, shops and local government build- ings. The company behind the project, Monte Adriano from Portugal, sees Huambo as a good investment opportunity. “We believe Huambo is going to be very important for Angola like it was for the Portuguese,” says Tiago Patrício, a member of the board. “There are more and more people with purchasing power in Huambo and there are people outside the city who want houses in Huambo for their families or for doing business there.”

iStockphoto.com/Mark Kuipers Patrício says he has watched the city change during regular business visits. Huambo’s location in the central highlands It also has the Casa Ecologia, an of Angola gives it a cooler, more European- environmental study and education venue, “Each time I go to Huambo, I am struck by style climate with more rain but plenty of and the park in the city centre with its the rate of development. Every time I am sunshine making for perfect growing Estufa Fria (greenhouse) which is to be there, I see something new. It’s growing so conditions. redeveloped and expanded to become a quickly. In Huambo’s heyday during the 1960s, it base for researching and preserving “For example, when we opened a was known as the “granary” of Angola and indigenous plants. a major exporter of products such as In another reinforcement of its Toyota dealership we did not expect to sell beans and maize. The legacy of war and ecological importance, the province has many cars. We didn’t think there was much landmines still looms large in the province, been chosen by the government to of a market for new cars in Huambo, but in however, and the majority of farming is pilot a project aimed at reducing land the first year we sold 120 4x4s. The demand subsistence and small scale. degradation. was so great, we had to move premises.” It will take time to relaunch Huambo The scheme, in partnership with the as a major agriculture exporter, but in the Global Environment Facility and with input Monte Adriano, like Grupo Imocom, meantime the city is marketing itself as an from the United Nations, aims to reduce was among the early investors in Huambo eco-city. Home to the country’s Institute unsustainable agriculture, stop deforesta- and today it is reaping the benefits. of Agricultural Research and Faculty of tion, prevent overgrazing and promote bet- “Huambo is crucial for us,” says Assis of Agricultural Science, Huambo is the ter environmental practices, particularly Grupo Imocom. “It was the first place we national leader in environmental matters. among subsistence farmers. came to in Angola. Four years ago, the then dalina Beatriz Grevelda years was a business of survival,” she She says the biggest change has governor António Paulo Kassoma, who is Chimuanga, known as Gigi, has run says. “We had nothing sometimes and been the new roads which mean many Urban growth: the Estufa a restaurant in the city for 16 years it was extremely hard. Huambo was a more people are able to reach Fria, a blue greenhouse now prime minister of Angola, was inviting I people to invest in the province. We were and also has a beauty salon and small very sad place. During the war our city Huambo and to do business. Gigi, given an opportunity, so we took it, and pension. She kept her restaurant open was martyred and it was sacrificed, whose son and daughter aged 20 and we’re benefiting from that now. during the hardest times of the war but the people of Huambo are marvel- 25 are both at university in Luanda, “Of course, there’s always a risk and today is one of the city’s best- lous for carrying on. says she believes Huambo will soon involved in this kind of investment and it known businesswomen. “I was born in “But today the past is the past. be like the capital. takes time. It’s not an instant return on your Huambo, raised here and I will never We’re living in the present and the “It will take, say, four to five years money, but in the long term we are leave,” says the 43-year-old. “This is road forward is one of development. but I think Huambo will have the same absolutely sure that we are right to have my city and my home.” People in Huambo are hard workers. services and businesses as Luanda, gone to Huambo. We are coming across Today, her restaurant buzzes Now we’re working to rehabilitate our but with a better climate and without people all the time who want to leave throughout the day but she remem- city which is going to be beautiful like all the traffic. A lot of people are Luanda to go and live in Huambo. As soon bers when business was not so brisk. it was before when it was called Nova coming to start businesses and make as more jobs and schools are there, we’re “The business we did during the war Lisboa.” money.”

Pics: Kamene M Traça going to see a real population explosion.” 

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PAPAL VISIT

Full house: Angolans pack the Coqueiros stadium in Luanda to hear the Pope CIRO FUSCO/epa/Corbis The day the Pope came to Angola The most Catholic country in Africa, Angola went wild when the Pontiff came to town. Louise Redvers reports ➔

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PAPAL VISIT

Doing the Lord’s work: he first people began to arrive outside Luanda’s airport just scenes from Pope’s tour after 6am and among those caught up in the excitement was TAdriana Julião. Dressed in a colourful sarong, headscarf and white T-shirt, she clutched a poster of Pope Benedict XVI in one hand, and a flag bearing his face in the other. “I got here at 6.20am,” said the 24-year-old, “I wanted to make sure I was at the front so I would be able to see the Pope when he comes past. The fact that the Pope has come to Angola to visit us means so much and it brings so much happiness.” Within a few hours, Adriana and her friends were joined by thousands of people in lines four deep stretched back along the Church and state: main road leading up to the airport. Singing, playing guitars, chant- Benedict XVI and dos Santos ing, clapping and dancing, the crowds, mostly women, carried AP/PA Photos banners saying “Welcome Pope Benedict” and “Bless Us.” pared to the frenzy as the 82–year-old Pontiff drove past the gath- Sister Isabel Benjamin, 43, stood smiling as she waited for the ered crowds in his white Mercedes Popemobile, which had been Pope’s plane to touch down. “People here are very happy to receive specially imported weeks before. the Pope,” she said. “It is like people are experiencing a God among Human chains of Girl and Boy Scouts struggled to contain the us. Before, Angola was a war country, but now we are experiencing excited people, some breaking free and running alongside the peace and the Pope coming here really is a very exciting moment Pope’s motorcade as it drove into town. for us. I hope he will bring us a lasting peace.” Later that day Benedict met dos Santos at the Presidential Igor Ribas, 25, told Universo he had got up at 5am to be there Palace in Luanda’s Cidade Alta, this time for a private meeting last- at the airport to see the Pope. “We are all very happy Pope Benedict ing 45 minutes, and afterwards he attended a reception with local is coming here,” he said, slightly breathless from singing. “John Paul politicians and international diplomats. II came here in 1992 but the country was very different then, we were at war. Now we are at peace and it is important Benedict can Security checks be here to see how we are doing.” In a nationally televised speech that evening, the Pope called on By the time the Pope’s Vatican plane touched down on Angolan Africa to show “a determination born from the conversion of hearts soil, there were more than 30,000 people waiting to greet him. He to excise corruption once and for all. Armed with integrity, magna- REUTERS/Ho New was given a red-carpet welcome at Luanda’s Fourth of February nimity and compassion, you can transform this continent, freeing Airport and greeted in person by President José Eduardo dos Santos your people from the scourges of greed, violence and unrest,” he and First Lady Ana Paula dos Santos, together with a large group of said. He also called for “respect and promotion of human rights, senior church leaders and Angolan politicians. A huge roar went transparent governance, an independent judiciary, a free press, a

up as the plane came into sight overhead, but it was nothing com- civil service of integrity and a properly functioning network of REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi schools and hospitals.” Saturday morning began with more crowds gathering early to Pope spoke in Portuguese see Pope Benedict arrive to hold Mass at the Church of São Paulo. An estimated 55 per cent of The city’s largest in terms of capacity, holding up to 1,700 people, Angolans are Catholic – which the church is run by a community of Salesians and was extensively makes it the country in Africa with renovated for the occasion. Roads and pavements in the area were the highest percentage of Catholics dug up and relaid, graffiti scrubbed from walls, new trees planted in the population. As such, it was an and gardens tidied and the previously tatty apartment blocks in the obvious choice for the first visit of Pope Benedict to Africa since he be- approach road spruced up with a new lick of paint. came Pontiff in 2005 at the age of 78. The Mass was by invitation only, but all guests underwent CIRO FUSCO /epa/Corbis An experienced pianist, he also strict security checks, having their bags scanned by metal detectors REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi speaks many languages and made before being allowed to enter. Outside, around the back of the his public addresses in Angola in church, thousands in white Pope Benedict T-shirts and caps gath- AP/PA Photos fluent Portuguese. Most of his comments made in Angola were well received. ered around radio sets and a giant television screen to watch the He called for an end to African wars, greed and corruption, and Mass from the street and join in with the singing. a fairer distribution of wealth among the continent’s poorest Benedict used this Mass to condemn the problem of children people. being accused of witchcraft and he called on Catholics to help bring In 1491, Angola was the first in Sub-Saharan country to people back to the true faith. He said: “It is up to you, brothers and receive Catholic missionaries. The country was visited by John Paul II in 1992 to celebrate the 500th anniversary of this event sisters, following in the footsteps of those heroic and holy heralds during a brief lull in the civil war. of God, to offer the risen Christ to your fellow citizens. So many of them are living in fear of spirits, of malign and threatening 

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PAPAL VISIT

Local tribute: Angolan dancers welcome the Pontiff It was important for us to see the Pope... and it has Sónia Martins, who travelled definitely been worth it 500km to Luanda from Lunda Norte

powers. In their bewilderment they end up even condemning street As the Mass finished and the throngs dispersed, people children and the elderly as alleged sorcerers.” hummed and danced their way out of the site, their faces bright Later that afternoon, Benedict visited Luanda’s Coqueiros and smiling. One worshipper, Maria da Conceição de Silva Lemos, “Football Stadium where he was greeted by 30,000 young people said the Mass was “beautiful” and an “inspiration”. The 73-year-old who packed the seats and pitch area for the meeting. As the from Luanda said it had taken her two hours to reach the service Popemobile entered the stadium through the main gate, there” were and it was likely to take even longer to get home, but she added: screams and cheers, and as he slowly made his way around the “Of course it was worth it to see the Pope.” athletic track, the crowd surged to one side, everyone desperate to Maria Pelinganga, 46, said: “It’s a great blessing for us to have get a closer look. the Pope coming to our country. Today has been indescribable.” The event had the atmosphere of a pop concert and there was Following the stadium tragedy, security at Cimangola was tight dancing, singing, and cheering with regular chants of the catchy and anyone seen to be pushing was pulled from the crowd. The radio and television advert for the Pope’s visit, “Papa, Amigo, sun, however, was the biggest enemy, as it beat down on the masses Angola está contigo” (Pope, my friend, Angola is with you). who had no shade except for hand-held umbrellas. There were reports of as many as 400 people needing medical aid for sun- Stadium tragedy related illnesses and two people were taken to hospital. Silva Francisco, 17, Célia Dolga, 32, and Sónia Martins, 23, came all Pope Benedict was seen at times to wipe the sweat from his the way from Lunda Norte in the North of Angola to see the Pope. brow, but he left smiling and headed onwards to meet members of “We just really wanted to be here,” Sónia explained, “It was impor- the women’s group Promaica (Promotion of Angolan Women in the tant for us to see the Pope so we travelled to Luanda, and it has Catholic Church) at Santo António Church in Cazenga. Here he definitely been worth it.” gave an address, was sung to and presented with gifts and later met Denis Júlio, 29, a driver who lives on the outskirts of Luanda, a number of the women. and part of a church group attending the stadium event, added: On the Monday morning, which the government declared at

AP/PA Photos “The Catholic Church has done a lot for young people in Angola, the last minute a half-day holiday, thousands once again took to first through the war, particularly helping those who lost their the streets to watch Benedict make his final journey to the airport Three graces: Silva Francisco, Célia Dolga to head back to the Vatican. Before he climbed into his car for the and Sónia Martins, from Lunda Norte parents, and now in peace time the church continues to help. Today is the day for young people to be here and see their Pope.” last time, the Pontiff stepped out on the road to shake hands with Inside the stadium spirits were high and the crowd boisterous, some of the gathered nuns and smiled and waved at the cheering with people pushing to get past and long queues at all the gates. It lines behind them. later emerged that tragically on the way into the stadium earlier in There was a short address at Luanda airport by both Benedict the day two girls had been crushed to death and several other and dos Santos, with the President thanking the Pope for visiting teenagers injured. his country and giving the people “a unique and privileged Benedict opened his Sunday Mass outside the Cimangola moment”. cement factory by sending his condolences to the families of the Dos Santos added: “It was exciting to see all the manifestations young victims. The Mass on the northern fringes of Luanda was of faith, devotion and human warmth that were shown to you by hailed as the highlight of the Pontiff’s visit and was believed to have the Angolan people. And on their behalf I am grateful that the been attended by nearly one million people, although some Vatican has never lacked words of appreciation, cherish, hope and reported as many as three million. encouragement for the Angolan nation.”  People started arriving while it was still dark, many coming by foot along the dusty road to avoid the traffic queues, and by 9am a sea of white Pope Benedict baseball caps stretched as far as the eye Angola gets world coverage could see. The Pope arrived just before 10am and the crowds parted to allow his car to pass through and make its way up to the giant Never before have so many journalists flown in to Angola for a single media event. More than 120 foreign journalists arrived in steel stage, which was decorated in red cloth flowers and Luanda – 70 flying with the Papal party and 50 independently. surrounded by seats full of VIPs and choirs. Including Angolans, the press pack numbered more than 200. The service lasted nearly an hour and a half and included Wherever the Popemobile went, not far behind came two yellow readings, hymns, prayers, Holy Communion and an address from minibuses transporting the Vatican correspondents and behind the Pope, where he acknowledged Angola’s years of suffering and them, on foot, a pack of photographers and television crews. TPA (Televisão Pública de Angola), RNA (Rádio Nacional de called for an end to all wars in Africa. The music ranged from Angola) and Rádio Ecclésia broadcast speeches and crowd traditional high Catholic to African folk songs and was beamed out scenes live and had reporters stationed around the capital to

Louise Redvers REUTERS/Ho New from giant speaker towers set up throughout the crowd. give updates and colour about the event.

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arly this year, Ghana witnessed the peaceful transfer of The oil curse is so called because many nations – including power from one elected president to another. Now, with the Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria – do not profit from oil, but suffer Ediscovery of a major oilfield off its shores, the country is more than they did before it was found. Economic studies have hoping to show that oil can be a blessing, and not the curse it has shown that between 1970 and 1993, for example, resource-poor been to so many developing countries. countries grew four times faster than countries sitting on a wealth GOLD, So far, analysts say that Ghana has taken many encouraging of resources. steps – promising transparency, seeking the advice of countries that Wary of the unrest in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, where rebels and did it right and planning to overhaul its regulatory framework – bandits often attack oil wells because they believe they do not see before oil starts flowing out of the Jubilee Field, estimated to hold any of oil’s benefits, Mills has used almost every oil-related appear- 1.2 billion barrels of light, sweet crude which has a consistency on ance he has made since his election in December 2008 to vow that a par with the best in the world. Ghana will not fall victim to its oil. “They have made all the right moves in reaching out and so “President Mills gave the assurance that the government will CHOCOLATE forth,” says Monica Enfield, an analyst with PFC Energy in the continue to co-operate with the oil-drilling companies in an open, United States. “On top of that, it is a very stable country, so as long honest and transparent manner,” said a government news release as they don’t let oil overwhelm their economy they could probably after the president met recently with executives from Tullow Oil do it right.” and Anadarko Petroleum, two companies involved in oil extraction Ghana found that it was sitting on massive reserves of oil in in Ghana. “He, however, served a reminder that the government 2007, the 50th anniversary of its independence from the United will ensure that the oil and gas does not become a curse through ANDOIL Kingdom. In the time since that discovery, both the former presi- lack of respect for the environment and shady deals.” Ghana is preparing to become West Africa’s newest oil producer. Can it avoid the dent, John Kufuor, and his successor John Evans Atta Mills, have Experts believe Ghana has a few distinct advantages that will problems that have beset Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea? asks Nicholas Wadhams vowed not to let Ghana fall victim to the oil curse. separate it from its neighbours. For one, its economy already has 

Riches of the sea: Accra beach at sundown Ariadne Van Zandbergen

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The service companies are setting more realistic prices “Kosmos is extremely excited about the opportunities for oil exploration in Ghana and has an active drilling programme for the activities that they provide our industry, which is a good planned for the next several years,” says W. Greg Dunlevy, Kosmos Golden Jubilee Energy’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer. outcome for oil and gas exporters and producers “Kosmos continues to explore its existing assets in West Africa, Oil discoveries in Ghana Angus McCoss, Tullow Oil including Ghana, and seeks new-venture opportunities throughout the region.” Independence Arch, Accra “ The Ghanaian government’s big challenge will be whether it maintains the balance between reaping the wealth from oil and making sure it is prepared for the deluge. Human rights activists and local communities are urging ” Ghana to take things slowly, but time is not an advantage that Ghana has, particularly with the world in the grip of an economic downturn. Ahead of the presidential election in December, the government ramped up spending on infrastructure, civil servant salaries and other projects to please the country’s 24 million people, 20 per cent of whom are considered extremely poor. That profligacy led President Mills’s government to declare that Ghana was “broke.” Then, in March, the Standard & Poor’s credit agency cut its outlook on Ghana and the newly revamped President John Atta Mills national currency, the cedi, fell from parity with the US dollar to Photolibrary AFP/Getty Images 1.4 to the dollar. Financial windfall “In 2009, it emerged that the 2008 deficit is likely to be in the region of 15 per cent of GDP, which is massive,” says Remy Salters, a credit analyst at Standard & Poor’s. “It’s not often around the world that you find fiscal deficits of that size.” Salters estimates that Ghana spent $2.2 billion last year on importing oil – the country consumes 60,000 barrels a day – and President Mills will no doubt be eager to erase that expense. He will want to add the income that oil will bring (an estimated $20 billion from Jubilee alone by 2030) as he seeks to meet the government’s promise of whittling the deficit to 3 per cent in four years. In the rush to get oil pumping, Ghana’s government may be AFP/Getty Images Coast near Accra under pressure to overlook questions that its own civil society Photolibrary groups would like to have answered. One of the big ones is the fate a couple of export pillars so oil money will not be a shock to the hopes to be producing 120,000 barrels per day by 2021. of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) which owns Oil fields system. It is the world’s No. 2 exporter of cocoa and Africa’s second- Tullow Oil’s exploration director Angus McCoss says his a small stake in the Jubilee Field and regulates the oil industry, a 1. Jubilee biggest gold producer. company has benefited from low worldwide oil prices, which are dual responsibility that some believe is a conflict of interest. 2. Tweneboa pushing down the price for contractor services and keeping the That points to the larger fact that because Ghana has never Robust media company on track. had any oil to export, its regulatory framework is fairly weak. Gold Ghana also has a robust media and civil-society network to “The service companies are setting more realistic prices for the mining in Ghana has ignited tensions between the government and keep the government in line. Transparency groups are cautiously activities that they provide to our industry, which is a good indigenous groups who argue that they do not profit. optimistic about the president’s promise to make public all oil outcome for oil and gas exporters and producers. Our economics Regular Ghanaians may not see the financial windfall they contracts that have and will be signed. for these projects, particularly in Ghana, are robust,” says McCoss, are hoping oil will bring. Almost all of Ghana’s oil is far offshore, Accra “Ghana has long been held up as a country in Africa that’s who also reveals that a floating production storage and offloading meaning that jobs will be limited to highly qualified workers in the 2 done it right and people had assumed it would do so in the oil vessel is being fitted in Singapore. oil sector. The industries that would spring up to support those 1 sector,” says Nicholas Shaxson, an oil analyst at the London-based The most exciting part for the oil companies is that for all of workers will also be limited. Chatham House think-tank. “It’s when the oil money really starts Jubilee’s riches, there is ample evidence that more oil will be found The American branch of Oxfam recently issued a report, flowing in that you’ll have a real test of it.” along Ghana’s coast, in a stretch of Cretaceous-era rock stretching Ghana’s Big Test, which urged the country to stop issuing licences The government has also maintained good relations with the along West Africa. In early March, Tullow and its partners, including until it can make sure oil benefits all the country. “There is prece- oil companies, who so far say they are on track with plans to begin Dallas-based Kosmos Energy, announced a “significant light-hy- dence for countries to try to pace the growth of the sector so that pumping oil out of Jubilee by the second half of 2010. The country drocarbon discovery” in the Tweneboa Field west of Jubilee. their institutional and legal framework can catch up,” it said. 

26 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 27 SU22.Welwitschia.pp28-33:SU22 18/5/09 12:42 Page 28

WELWITSCHIA

Old man of the desert The Welwitschia mirabilis survives in the harsh climate of the Angolan desert and can live for up to 2,000 years. Igor Cusack reports ➔ Photolibrary

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hen the Austrian naturalist Dr two leaves, but they became split and New Leaf: Curtis’s Botanical Magazine in 1863 carried Frederic Welwitsch was on tattered at the extremities as the centuries these first illustrations of the W a botanical expedition near passed by. recently discovered plant Cabo Negro in Angola in 1859, he spotted a The welwitschia is endemic only in the most peculiar looking plant inhabiting an south of Angola and in Namibia, growing elevated sandy plateau. mainly in dry watercourses and gravel The same plant was also found 500 plains. It is a dioecious species, meaning miles to the south in Namibia the following that it has separate male and female plants. year by the British explorer and artist The females are recognised by their larger Thomas Baines. The locals called the plant cones, which bear the seeds. The males Tumboa or Tumbo and so the plant was for have smaller and more numerous cones. It a while called Tumboa bainesii, but the is thought that only when it reaches a accepted name has come to be Welwitschia century old is the welwitschia ready to mirabilis. reproduce. The welwitschia is a fascinating plant. The leaves are greenish-grey, tough By measuring the speed of growth of its and woody and are arranged in flowing rolls giant leaves, and by carbon dating, it has around a central point, enabling the plant been estimated that it can live for more to effectively conserve water. It is thought than 500 years – with some estimates that the plants are able to extract moisture extending to 2,000 years. from the thick fogs, generated by the cold Not only does this plant live for many Benguela current out in the ocean, which centuries, but it appears to be the only envelop this coastal region. living example of a group of plants which have survived on Earth for many millions of Eaten by bugs years. Fossils of their ancient relatives some The seeds germinate during the infrequent 112 to 114 million years old have been rains and those seedlings that survive found in the rocks of the Araripe Basin of rapidly grow a great taproot which pushes northern Brazil. Before the Atlantic opened down into the desert sands. Various insects up, as the continents drifted apart, this area have been recorded on the female plant – would have been close to where the among others the tan cotton stainer (Odon- modern day welwitschia grows in Angola. topus sexpunctatis), a yellow-orange and black bug which feeds on seeds in develop- ing cones of the welwitschia, and the orange-coloured assassin bug. If you cannot manage a visit to the Namibe region of Angola, a good place to see this plant is at the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Gardens in Germany which are well-known for the successful cultivation of welwitschia from seed to flower. The gardens have seeds originating from Angola, provided by the Botanic Garden in Coimbra,

Portugal, and others from Namibia. © 1995-2009 Missouri Botanical Garden By looking at the growing plants, the Swiss botanist Dr Beat Ernst is in Ireland or the thistle in Scotland. Leuenberger, who is a senior curator at Welwitschia, being such a sturdy, long-liv- Berlin-Dahlem, was able to describe two ing plant of ancient origins, makes an Angolans are very proud of the wonderful plant, and in subspecies of the plant, differentiated on excellent national cultural emblem. Chil- The plant the basis of male cone characters. dren are taught about the plant at school. many ways welwitschia could be considered the national looks like an Angolans are very proud of the The Angolan novelist Ondjaki writes in plant of Angola, just as the shamrock is in Ireland or the ugly mess of wonderful plant, and in many ways his novel Os da Minha Rua about a young leaves. In fact, the welwitschia could be considered the na- boy, Ndalu, who when visiting the Namibe thistle in Scotland welwitschia has only tional plant of Angola, just as the shamrock desert with his parents declares that  “ 30 SONANGOL UNIVERSO ” SUMMER 2009 31 SU22.Welwitschia.pp28-33:SU22 18/5/09 12:42 Page 32

WELWITSCHIA

Sparkling symbol: The plant has given its name to a brand of tonic water and has featured on Angolan stamps Kamene M Traça

“ostriches run very quickly there … and the made to associate different commercial famous Welwitschia mirabilis, [is] the most products with welwitschia’s fame and beautiful plant of all the deserts of the longevity. In May 2006, the Portuguese world”. September 3 is commemorated as company Wayfield, which in recent years Welwitschia Mirabilis Day, marking the has been promoting drinks in Angola, supposed date on which Dr Welwitsch first launched a tonic water called Welwitschia. found the plant. In December 2007, a brand of sports equip- ment also called Welwitschia was launched Stamp of approval in Luanda by the Angolan businessman An- In 1959, during the colonial period, a fine tónio Justino. set of Angolan postage stamps showing What happened to Dr Welwitsch after welwitschia was issued on the centenary of his great discovery? Local myths and folk- its discovery. Since then, at regular inter- tales tell of the poor doctor having been vals, Angola has portrayed the plant on its eaten by the plant or perhaps he was bitten stamps. For example, in 1991 some stamps by a snake lurking in the giant leaves. marking the African Year of Tourism in- What we do know is that he came to clude one showing a lovely group of wel- England and is buried in Kensal Green witschia plants growing in a very red desert. Cemetery, West London, where he is listed Another set, this time celebrating the among other famous scientists. He gave his African Basketball Championship in 1999, name to the marvellous plant thought of by shows a most peculiar stamp with a wel- some as ugly and by others as beautiful, but witschia holding a basketball in the air! certainly an amazing and wonderful sym- If welwitschia is the national plant of bol for any nation.  Angola, Namibia also makes a claim. It has included it on its national crest and encour- Dr Igor Cusack is Visiting Lecturer in the ages tourists to see it in its national parks. Department of Portuguese Studies at the A fine ten-shilling colonial stamp from 1931 University of Birmingham and would like to shows a strangely well-preserved plant. thank all those on the H-Luso-Africa list who

In Angola, various attempts have been provided him with material for this article Photolibrary

32 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 33 SU22.Paul G.pp34-37:SU22 18/5/09 12:38 Page 34

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G-forceLouise Redvers meets Paul G, an Angolan singer with an international outlook aul G is arguably Angola’s biggest pop Musically there is a rush too, he says. I am the star. Toned and trim and dressed in “We grew up very, very fast in terms Pthe latest designer gear, he certainly of music here, from traditional music to only Angolan looks the part. When he arrives for our mixing it with the new types of sounds. I’m interview on the Marginal in his Toyota talking about mixing kuduro with semba represented at Land Cruiser, the excited car parking boys and then zouk. shout his name in recognition. “When SSP started out, we were in the Koras, so It is a busy time for this 33-year-old: he a war situation, under fire and that type “it’s good to be has been nominated for a Kora Award, the of thing, and people looked at us as crazy African equivalent of the Grammy Awards; guys. But now they are really starting to he is working with former Fugees member understand the role of the musician in there for my Wyclef Jean; he has his debut album our culture. People used to look at us as country Transition to promote and his own dreamers, but now they recognise what we company to run; and he also heads a are doing.” project for street kids. Paul now lives mostly in the United States, but we meet while he Top spot is back home seeing his family for a holiday People are definitely recognising Paul G. during an African concert tour. Freaking Me Out, the signature track from “It’s always good to be back among the Transition, enjoyed a spell at the top spot of people who love you, especially when you Africa’s MTV Base video charts, and Paul ” spend quite a while out of the country,” has been nominated in the category for he says. “And in this little time in Angola I best artist from Southern Africa in the Kora can see some improvements – it’s really Awards, which will be announced in overwhelming.” December. “Yes, it’s been a good year,” he Paul started out as a member of An- says. “I am the only Angolan represented at golan hip-hop posse SSP but then moved to the Koras, so it’s good to be there for my the US to work on a solo career. His music is country.” slickly produced R&B sung in English that Paul grew up in Alvalade in central would not be out of place on the dance Luanda, but lived for four years in Brazil floors of Europe or America. with his father and is now based in The singer is passionate about how Maryland in America. “I decided to move to Angola is developing post-conflict and how the States to take it to a whole new level, the music scene is also evolving. “You know, singing in English, just to let the people for a country that was in a civil war for over know that there is a country called Angola – 30 years it’s really running quite fast. Other that we exist and we’re here.” countries would not be able to do what I ask Paul how Angolans reacted to his we’re doing. You can see that people are in decision to sing in English. “Well, in the a rush to grow and the government is trying beginning I was kinda afraid because, you

to keep up with that.” know, people have been hearing me  Kamene M Traça

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PAUL G PAUL G

King of sound: Wyclef Jean, creating new sounds, so it’s been amazing We are mixing kuduro with R&B hardly had a chance to discuss Paul’s music. ex-Fugees, is working with Paul G for me.” I ask him about Transition, which he But it is not all bling and big names for and his vibes, and you know Wyclef is describes as an album of “love stories” and Paul. While back in Angola, he has been “love experiences” and “love experiences busy with his production company Magic all open wide and into new stuff that go bad”. Paul has split from his wife Fingaz, which is signing up-and-coming Bruna Tatiana, herself a successful Angolan Angolan stars. He has also been working on care what you want to become, a doctor or something that will change our country kizomba singer and 2003 Big Brother Africa Dança Futura, his project with street “a singer, just do good things.’ forever. It gave me a sense of responsibility, contestant. children in Luanda. The idea, he explains, “Even when we were at war back in and that sort of sense of helping and push- We meet as Paul is nearing the end is to give young people, many of whom 1992, my mother used to tell me the same ing the country to another level is exactly of his African tour which includes stops in were orphaned by the civil war, a chance to thing: ‘We’re looking at you like the key to why I decided to come and play my part.” Namibia, Kenya and Nigeria, as well as get some education and learn new skills. our dreams. You can do whatever you While we are chatting,” a few curious most provinces of Angola. He says he is “It’s about trying to get these kids off the want...’ Now, whenever I do anything, I am hotel guests wander over to stare. He smiles happy to be home to spend some time streets because, if they stay there, they are proud to think that I am actually support- at them but is unfazed and keeps on with his family at their new home in the going to get into bad ways.” ing my family because that’s exactly what I talking. What is it like being recognised all Nova Vida housing complex in Luanda Sul. have been doing. It’s just beautiful.” the time, I ask. “It’s good,” he says. “Actually, He also tells me he is hoping to open a Tough reality Paul says he cannot always make it here in Angola people look at me like a way restaurant outside Luanda near the slavery I ask Paul what it is like to come from his home as much as he would like but he to their dreams. There was this kid who told museum. “I have the land and I want to comfortable lifestyle in America to the made sure he was in Luanda in September me exactly that: ‘You for me are like a make it like a resort where people can go sometimes tough reality of Luanda where 2008 for the landmark election, the first to dream come true,’ he said. ‘I am looking at and chill out and enjoy some live music,” poverty stares you in the face at every street be held in Angola for 16 years. you and I want to be having what you’re he says. corner. “It’s difficult. You come here from “I came home to vote,” he tells me. “It having...’” Paul G is thinking big – both in and out the States and you see that the people and was good because I was contributing to All this chat about Angola and we have of the studio.  the country are struggling and it hurts. “You tell yourself it is because of the war, but you have to get up and go to work because if you just sit down and blame this Paul G on the war you’re not going to get

anywhere. You’re just going to stay in the Real name Paulo Jorge Marques João same place, just blaming, blaming, blam- ing. You have to stand up, grab the keys and Age 33 do your thing.” Home life Grew up in Alvalade, Luanda. Spent Although Paul’s parents separated four years in Brazil; now based in when he was younger, he says his family Maryland in the US, but with a family support has been invaluable. “My mother home in Nova Vida, Luanda Sul always backed me up, my stepfather too. Jobs At 16 became a professional skate- AP/PA Photos They always told me: ‘Whatever you do, boarder in Brazil before coming back singing in Portuguese which is my Last December at the Fullblast Festival make sure you just do good things. We don’t to Luanda and joining SSP language, but they received it very well. in Luanda, Paul met Wyclef Jean, the They all keep telling me that I’ve got to put acclaimed multimillion-record-selling Albums With SSP: 99% of Love, Odisseia, Alfa and The best of SSP. Solo: Transition our flag over there, and I am just starting to music star. “Someone played my CD to take this as a responsibility.” Wyclef and he told people it could be a Awards Nominated for Kora Award for best Paul explains that he is trying to make bomb in the States,” says Paul. “Then I was artist in Southern Africa a uniquely Angolan R&B sound and does in my studio at home trying to come up Favourite food Funge not want to copy American artists. The idea with some new ideas when, all of a sudden, is R&B with Angolan vibes. “If people listen he phoned me and said: ‘You’ve got to come Favourite place in Angola Lobito to my album, they will definitely under- down here. I’ve heard your tracks; we’ve got Ideal Saturday morning Waking up late, going to the gym stand that I am African and that I am trying to do something…’ and then hitting the studio to make a new sound.” “So just now we’ve been working on a He cites his main inspiration as the track here in Luanda. We are mixing kuduro Love life Was married to Angolan singer and neo-soul R&B singer Maxwell: “He’s got that with R&B and his vibes, and you know Big Brother Africa contestant Bruna Tatiana, but now says “I don’t have type of vibe and I like it,” and further back, Wyclef is all open wide and into new stuff. time in my life right now, I’m too Michael Jackson – “He’s one of the original, It’s quite a big experience for me because busy…”

you’ve got to go with that,” he adds. he is the top producer. He is the king of Kamene M Traça

36 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 37 SU22.Sonangol News.pp38-39:SU22 18/5/09 12:41 Page 38

Sonangol news briefing NEWS

alfway through Angola’s year-long Flood aid Gulf ambition presidency of Opec, International oil companies have H been helping the tens of thousands Sonangol is among international oil Sonangol has been active both of people affected by heavy rain and companies which have qualified to take part in a second round of bidding for oil internationally and domestically. flooding in the south of Angola. Total donated 30 tons of items including 500 and gas contracts in Iraq. According to The company is involved in blankets, 500 mosquito nets, 250 tents, Associated Press, the Iraqi Oil Ministry said nine firms had been selected from the investing with Portuguese food products and water-cleansing kits. Exxon Mobil also made a donation of 38 who showed interest. banks, as chief executive $75,000 to help the government support The companies chosen include Russia’s two state-owned Rosneft and Tatneft; the Manuel Vicente said in his affected families. The flooding, which began in February, has claimed more than UK’s Cairn Energy; Japan Oil, Gas and annual address to the press, 25 lives and destroyed around 150,000 Metals; Oil India; Kazakhstan’s state- owned KazMunaiGas; PetroVietnam; and is also continuing with hectares of farmland. Cunene and Kuando Kubango are the worst-hit provinces. Sonangol; and Pakistan Petroleum. major infrastructure projects Iraq holds the world’s third-largest known oil reserves of at least 115 billion at home. Deep blue barrels.

One of these projects is The seventh annual Deep Water iStockphoto.com the refinery in Lobito, which Angola Summit attracted hun- dreds of people to the Talatona Con- AFP/Getty Images we feature in this issue of vention Centre in Luanda. The theme of Strategic bank Universo. The $8 billion refinery the conference was sustainability in Target man deepwater development. Organised by Sonangol and Portugal’s state-run bank is needed so that Angola can be Angolan Oil Minister José Maria Vienna, the members agreed to keep EnergyWise, the event featured stands Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) have set up a new bank to finance infrastructure self-sufficient in refined Botelho de Vasconcelos conducted his existing output targets in an attempt to from major oil and service companies first meeting as president of the Organ- placate producing countries, but also and various seminars and presenta- projects in Angola. The agreement to petroleum products. The ization of Petroleum Exporting Coun- in the hope that the lower production tions. Oil Minister José Maria Botelho create Banco de Fomento e Desenvolvi- mento de Angola (BFDA) was signed refinery project is being led by tries (Opec) in March when oil prices rates might stabilise prices. Vasconce- de Vasconcelos and Adão Gaspar were continuing to hover between $40 los told journalists afterwards: “The Pereira do Nascimento, Secretary of when Angolan President José Eduardo Anabela Fonseca, the first and $50 a barrel, putting pressure on trend in oil prices is positive and we State for Higher Education, took part. dos Santos visited Lisbon in March. Although he had visited the former colo- woman on Sonangol’s adminis- the industry at home and abroad. hope that it continues until we reach Among those presenting were Schlum- At the meeting, held at Opec HQ in $70 to $75 per barrel.” berger, StatoilHydro, Acergy and nial power before, this was the first state tration board. Maersk Oil. The theme of the next sum- visit of the Angolan leader to Portugal. Sonangol and CGD both pledged to in- José Maria Botelho de mit in December is “harnessing deep- water potential for Angola’s future.” vest $500 million in the bank to finance Vasconcelos, Angola’s Oil projects in the transport, telecommuni- Photolibrary Island treasure cations and energy sectors. The bank, REUTERS/Hugo Correia Minister and current Opec head, Sonangol is close to signing a deal with On your marks with headquarters in Luanda and a “If there is a step which helps build a chaired his first meeting of the São Tomé and Príncipe to help start Sonangol celebrated its 33rd an- branch in Lisbon, is set to start working strategic partnership between Portugal in the second half of 2009. Sonangol will and Angola, that step is the creation of oil-producing nations’ club in pumping oil from the coast of the tiny niversary in February with a fun run African island. Its Prime Minister for staff and families through the centre of appoint the chief executive for the first this bank which will finance and provide which it was agreed that the Joaquim Rafael Branco met Angolan Luanda. Administration board president three years. President dos Santos a boost to the strategic economic described the creation of the bank as co-operation.” Portugal also doubled its countries should keep to their President José Eduardo dos Santos in Manuel Vicente used the day to officially Luanda in February. A key exporter of open Sonangol’s new central laboratory “an important instrument from the cre- credit line for exports to Angola to €1 quotas in the hope that the price cocoa, São Tomé and Príncipe recently based at Sonils (Sonangol Integrated Lo- ation of partnerships between the state billion and launched a new €500 million institutions of Angola and Portugal.” commercial line to help Portuguese of a barrel of oil increases from discovered enormous oil reserves in the gistic Services). The lab features state-of- Gulf of Guinea and had been looking the-art equipment and technology and Portuguese prime minister José companies finance infrastructure its current low price. for a partner to tap into these reserves. carries out the testing work for products at Sócrates, pictured with dos Santos, said: projects in Angola. ➔ Luanda’s refinery.

38 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 39 SU22.Vicente.pp40-43:SU22 18/5/09 12:41 Page 40

NEWS

Manuel Vicente: positive outlook Full steam ahead Sonangol is expecting a productive year, despite the global financial crisis and the low price of oil, said chief executive Manuel Vicente at his annual press conference.

Manuel Vicente: During 2008 we managed was around $2.9 billion. Compared to 2007, the storage capacity and starting our inter- to reach the level of producing 2 million this was an increase in sales of 53 per cent; vention in the petrochemical business.  barrels per day [bpd], which had been earnings before interest and tax increased projected for a long time. Sonangol consol- by 36 per cent and our profit increased by idated its own production of 200,000 bpd, 30 per cent. and at this moment it has operations of In terms of financial performance, about 65,000 bpd. We consolidated our there are two important indicators worth entry into the refining business, in line with mentioning. One is profitability over own our vision to transform ourselves into an capital, rated at 27 per cent, while the integrated and competitive company. profitability of invested capital is rated at 33 We started the preliminary works of per cent. It is important to highlight this the Lobito refinery announced last year and amount so that we can clear some opinions the construction of the liquefied that have been voiced about Sonangol’s natural gas plant in Soyo. We continued to investment overseas. implement the master plan of our fuel In terms of delivery, in 2007 we paid retail network, as well as the expansion dividends of $210 million to the state. plan for fuel storage. We maintained our Sonangol is a state-owned company; the commitment to valuing our workforce state is the sole shareholder and, in the through specific training and capacity- framework of profit-sharing, this was the building programmes. share owed to the state. We paid taxes of Last year, we also increased the $2.2 billion. Concessionary revenues were statutory capital of the company, which about $20 billion. today is pegged at 500 billion kwanzas ($6.6 We still have challenges to fulfill. Some billion). The accounting is not totally closed of these are short term, like moulding or audited yet, but the following figures give Sonangol P&P and Sonagás with the view of an idea. increasing efficiency in the production of In terms of main results, we had sales oil and gas, consolidating and expanding of $26.6 billion. Our earnings before the refining business, expanding the

Kamene M Traça interest and tax were $4.8 billion. Our profit derivative distribution network, increasing Courtesy of Tullow Oil

40 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 41 SU22.Vicente.pp40-43:SU22 18/5/09 12:41 Page 42

NEWS NEWS

What do you think about the Is there an impact with the price of hope that prices will improve but there are current price of oil and do you oil so low? no bumps so far. Therefore, all develop- believe it will return to $75 a barrel, There is definitely an impact. It is one thing ment plans that were programmed are There will not be the level the Oil Minister has said to produce 50,000 barrels at $147 a barrel under way. Those areas that were to start an economy and a is most suitable for producers and and it is another to produce 50,000 at $42 a production continue working at a speedy consumers? barrel. Companies had their own projec- rhythm. We’ll also keep our fingers crossed consolidated society Manuel Vicente: I have been asked about tions and they were forced to reduce them. that prices improve. There are ongoing oil prices, and we’ve been joking that it is This does impact their accounting. There investments and these investments will in Angola if the minority the business of fortune-tellers. Nobody can are some ongoing actions that are being continue. As to the challenges that I listed: “ tell when the price will be $75 or $80 a implemented with the objective to soothe in the refining area, in the expansion of the can’t take part in it barrel. As an oil company we would like to these effects and fundamentally they have fuel distribution network and in the Manuel Vicente, Sonangol chief executive have prices that cover our expenses and turned to the domestic market. What expansion of stock, these investments will give a comfortable profit margin. Today’s Angola is trying to do – and this is within not slow down. On the contrary, they will price, $40 to $42 a barrel, requires some our strategy plan – is to increase the inter- be increased. care because many investments were nal financing capacity. projected with oil at a higher price. It is con- Is Sonangol still planning to enter sensus that a price of around $75 a barrel Will the current global financial the Angolan stock exchange which ” would be comfortable for the industry to crisis have any impact on was scheduled to open this year? work without bumps. When we will get Sonangol’s activities? There is a crisis and we are reconsidering there remains an unknown. There have At the present prices, at least where the our plans in terms of whether Sonangol will been two production cuts by Opec and a Angolan oil industry is concerned, we have enter the stock market. At this moment, barrel of oil is still priced around $40. no slowdown on planned investments. We nobody is exempt from this crisis and the markets currently are random and unsafe. Pumping up We’ve seen giants falling like paper cards. the action Would you invest in a stock market right now? I’m convinced that in the face of this crisis in the world, the bodies organising the bourse in Angola are rethinking this matter. Markets are very unstable. I think

there should be some prudence at a time Kamene M Traça like this, but I’m not saying that the bourse instead to find a solution to the problem. ing fuel. All these efforts will take time, but are also venturing into real estate – and we will never be open. there is enough fuel to sustain economic will need to have our own office in Portugal. There are often long queues at activities. We need to increase and improve Why were there no bidding rounds petrol stations here – is there a the sales service and increase significantly Are you planning a subsidiary of this year? shortage of fuel in the country? the stocking capacity throughout the coun- Sonangol in Portugal? We did not carry out any bidding rounds There is no scarcity of fuel but there is a try to serve our customers. No. The investments made in Portugal are because of the political calendar. We are shortage of petrol stations. Last year we financial participations. The only action waiting for the calendar for this year to be said that there were fewer and fewer Can you tell us about Sonangol’s body we have there is an agency for the defined so that we can resume the process. reselling points in the urban perimeter, and investments in Portugal? management of our interests, precisely in In an industry like ours, a government at this will continue as the urban perimeter In Portugal, Sonangol has investments in the information area. the end of its mandate cannot issue con- evolves. The petrol station at the point of Galp and in Millennium BCP, and recently cessions. This was the reason why we asked the Marginal will close and the pumps next we signed a contract with Caixa Geral de How can more Angolans benefit the government to postpone the bids. to Rádio Nacional de Angola, behind the Depósitos here in Angola for the restructur- from Angola’s natural resources? education ministry, will go. We have been ing of Totta Angola. Within a few days we The idea we have is to create conditions so Is there any regret about joining facing difficulties in replacing these outlets. will announce another investment in the that more and more Angolan citizens can Opec in the light of the production Fortunately, last year good work was done banking sector, which is the government’s play a part in the economy. Angolan enter- cuts which have been imposed? with the Luanda provincial government investment but Sonangol will be a prise initiatives should be in the main The decision to join Opec was taken by the and there is a vast construction programme subscriber (see page 39). Our investment in sectors of national activity. Most of us were state, and we as state entities have to oblige. of reselling points on the outskirts of Millennium is not speculative – it is long not born rich. But there will not be an econ- It is easy to question joining Opec now that Luanda. We live on fuel imports, and grow- term. In the same way that the Portuguese omy and a consolidated society in Angola if prices are at $40 a barrel. I think these ing demand has meant that the present have investments in Angola, it is necessary the minority can’t take part in it. Until now questions should have been raised when refinery could not cope. The refinery is now that Angolan enterprise initiatives have we’ve seen things leaning towards foreign the price was $147 a barrel. In times of crisis undergoing an extension and a slight investments in Portugal. I’m talking about intervention. It’s necessary that little by

iStockphoto.com/Franck Boston it is no use to seek the culprit. Let’s try modernisation so that we can stop import- banking and real estate – our investments little this trend be reversed. 

42 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 43 SU22.Refinery.pp44-49:SU22 18/5/09 12:39 Page 44

NEWS

Refine time Work has begun on a refinery in Lobito – an $8 billion project that will make Angola self-sufficient in diesel and petrol.

ngola currently imports about 60 A 200-hectare site near the port of per cent of its transport and heating Lobito has been chosen for the new refin- A fuels– a frustrating irony consider- ery. Preliminary work has begun, including ing the country’s vast offshore oil reserves. the clearance of landmines and the installa- Angola needs to import significant tion of fencing around the perimeter. The clean products because the country has refinery will be linked directly to the port, only one refinery, in Luanda, which cannot where a new marine off-loading facility is satisfy national demand. Now, however, being developed to facilitate the delivery of Sonangol is building a second one. It is the building materials. hoped that the new refinery in Lobito will When the project is finished, tankers eventually eliminate the need to import will bring crude oil from offshore platforms refined petroleum products such as diesel, and floating production, storage and petrol and paraffin. off-loading vessels (FPSOs) to crude  Photolibrary

44 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 45 SU22.Refinery.pp44-49:SU22 18/5/09 12:40 Page 46

NEWS

Landmines have been cleared controlled environment. It will be able to and construction work begun produce gasoil and coke as well as diesel and petrol. When the idea of a second refinery was first floated, Sonangol looked for a project partner. There was substantial interest from many companies, including supermajors already present in Angola such as Chevron and Exxon Mobil. But despite this interest and a large of number of studies and assessments carried out, the years passed and no partnership was formed. In 2006, Sonangol began negotiations with Chinese state oil company Sinopec but after a year of negotiations this also failed to bear fruit and Sonangol decided to go ahead alone. In late 2008, Houston-based KBR, which had previously been working along- side Sonangol as technical advisor for the project, was awarded the front-end engi- neering and design (FEED) contract. The refinery will be built in two stages. The first phase is expected to be completed by 2011 and the final phase, which includes the deep conversion coke and hydro-cracking units, will come in 2013. Site work for the new construction has already begun. A parking area is being built, temporary housing put up for construction workers and heavy-haul roads are being installed from Lobito to the site and from  FK PHOTO/CORBIS

transfer stations. Refined products will in refinery,” says Fonseca. “We were exporting turn be piped to the existing Sonangol all this raw crude but not the finished liquid-product terminals just south of the product, and we had to import refined oil new marine facilities, ready for local for our own use. It didn’t make sense.” distribution. New roads are being built to the refinery as well as a train line which will Process problems eventually link Lobito, in the southern half The Luanda refinery is not able to process of Angola, with Zambia to ensure good the heavier bottom residues that would Anabela Fonseca connections with the refinery. normally be turned into useful products, Head of Sonaref. She lives in Luanda with her husband Carlos Fernando Fonseca, The processing plant is being built by and instead they have to be sold off at a low “I am the first woman on director of Sonils (Sonangol Integrated Logistic Services), and three children aged Sonangol Sonaref and is headed by Anabela price. Oil drilled off Angola is typically 11, 17 and 20 Sonangol’s board which Fonseca, the first and only woman on heavy and/or acidic and needs substantial was a big honour. Sonangol’s board. “The refinery has been a processing to maximise the production of 1961 Born in Huambo, raised in Kuito Although the industry itself long time in the gestation, but now I can say high-value clean products. Because of its 1979 Studied chemical engineering at Agostinho Neto University, Luanda things are really starting to happen and the age and position on the edge of a congested can be male-dominated, I second refinery is becoming a reality for city, the Luanda refinery suffers from a 1982 First job at Ministry of Petroleum in the archives department, then in the think Sonangol is doing Angola,” she says. number of problems which cannot be refining section very well to have more The idea for a second facility was first quickly or easily remedied. 1996 Joined Sonangol women in management suggested in the 1990s when Total was The new Lobito plant will be able to running the Luanda refinery. “There was process Angolan crude with a much higher 2005 Appointed vice president and member of Sonangol board positions” a feeling that Sonangol wanted its own degree of efficiency and in a more

46 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 47 SU22.Refinery.pp44-49:SU22 18/5/09 12:40 Page 48

NEWS

By the time the Luanda refinery is upgraded and the Lobito refinery is running, Angola will not need to import

oil products Anabela Fonseca, head of Sonaref

there to the port. The refinery will get its being taken care of. We are working under start of the operation, the venture is “water supply from the nearby Catumbela the rules of the World Bank in this respect.” expected to be managed by an 85 per cent River which runs through the Benguela Angolan workforce, but it is hoped this will province to the Atlantic and the plan is to Creating jobs rise to 100 per cent within ten years. use some of the by-products from the She believes that the refinery will be a pull The projected cost of the refinery has processing, such as the coke,” to power the for people to move back from Luanda. “You doubled in the last few years from $4 billion plant. can’t just tell people who crowded into to $8 billion, partly because of an increase As part of the planning process, Luanda during the war years to go back in the prices of materials and building and Sonangol has commissioned an environ- home to the provinces. But if you create construction services. mental, social and health impact assess- jobs, housing, schools, hospitals and cine- Fonseca says Sonangol also has plans ment (ESHIA). The ESHIA will also look at mas, etc, you will not need to tell them to to upgrade the Luanda refinery, which it how the refinery will fit in with the local return to the provinces– they will.” has owned outright since 2008, so that it too communities and businesses. Sonangol estimates that as many as can process the heavy residues. She “Lobito is a small city with just a few 8,000 direct and indirect jobs will be says the Lobito and Luanda refineries will thousand people living there,” says created during the construction period and work in partnership and the plan is to Fonseca. “The new refinery will definitely the refinery, when up and running, will first supply the domestic market with change Lobito, but I also think it is a good employ around 800 people. Not all the jobs high-quality products, and then look to opportunity for it to grow because of all the created, of course, will be for Angolans. export: “By the time the Luanda refinery is investment. We have already begun studies International expertise will be needed to upgraded and the Lobito refinery is on the environmental impact and the construct, set up and initially help to run running, Angola will not need to import oil Photolibrary worries and questions that people have are the refinery to the highest standards. At the products,” she says.  From the bottom of the ocean to the petrol tank of your car

Liquefied Petroleum ➔ Gas (LPG)

➔ Gasoline Photolibrary ➔ Kerosene CRUDE ➔ REFINERY ➔ Diesel

➔ Fuel-Grade Diesel ➔ Coke iStockphoto.com/Jeff Strauss Sonaref Photolibrary

Crude oil entering the refinery is separated into light and heavy components by their specific boiling ranges. The oil is then treated to remove contaminants, such as sulphur and nitrogen. Some of the heavier oils are “cracked” into lighter ones. The various outputs are stored and then blended into the final products ready for shipment.

48 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 49 SU22.map.pp50-51:SU22 18/5/09 12:37 Page 50

THE BIG PICTURE: RAILWAYS

CONGO ngola has four railway lines that run across the country from east to west. All of them suffered severe damage during the civil war, and today only parts of three of them are working. Reconstruction and maintenance work, however, is under way and in the coming years more than 1,000km of track should come into use. The development of railways is DEMORATIC REPUPLIC A Operational OF CONGO especially important to the agriculture industry, which is currently unable to benefit from proper access to national and international markets because of the poor infrastructure. Cabinda Undergoing work Angola is also considering establishing international rail links to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the north, Derelict Zambia in the west and Namibia in the south. The northern line would run through Bengo, Uíge, Zaire and Cabinda into Congo, linking up with the Pointe Noire-Brazzaville line of Chemin de Fer Congo-Océan. High-level talks have also taken place with Namibia about a route that would run from Oshikango on the border with Namibia to Chamutete, south of the Namibe- Zaire Menongue line. In addition, there are plans by the Zambian government to extend the Zambia railways line across its North- Western Province and link it to Angola’s Benguela railway line in order to access the port of Lobito on the Atlantic Ocean. Uíge

Benguela in Malanje province, implemented by Chinese company Bengo line train Mectec, is now in its final stages. A new station is due to be un- veiled, along with renovated trains which will serve the line. The Caxito Kwanza renovation of 112km of track linking Malanje with Kwanza Lunda Norte Luanda Norte Norte is now complete. Two trains will serve this route carrying Luanda goods and an average of 1,000 travellers a day. The overall renovation project between Luanda and the Dondo Malanje northern Malanje province has a budget of about $90 million and is being hailed as a major logistical asset in the economic development of the rural Malanje region. Benguela railway Kwanza Sul Lunda Sul The British began construction of this railway in 1903 after the Moçâmedes railway discovery of copper reserves in Zambia and what is today Porto Malanje Current services run from Namibe to Matala via Lubango. Amboim Gabela known as the DRC. Luau Renovation work includes the opening of a new train station The Benguela line was intended to serve as a transport route in Menongue, which is due to be completed in October. Fifty for minerals across Angola to Lobito, and once linked up with new stations along the line from Namibe to Menongue will be the central African rail system that served the mining regions of Luena constructed. the DRC and Zambia. The full renovation programme begun in 2006 is due to be Huambo Current services start in Lobito, run along the short coastal Lobito Munhango completed in 2010. Once completed, three trains are scheduled strip to Benguela and then go inland as far as Cubal. The only to serve this route. The renovation of the Namibe-Menongue Benguela Caála Bié other section in operation is the 20km stretch from Huambo to Huambo route has been welcomed as an essential boost for the economic Cubal Moxico Caála. and social development of the wider region. The isolation of the There are plans to renovate the whole line from Lobito to rural Kuando Kubango, located approximately 900km from the Benguela Luau. However, the present renovation work is only taking place nearest port, has been a major obstacle to current development between Munhango and Luau. This is because of the problems of initiatives. landmines in the other areas. The line from Lubango to Chiange has been abandoned since The Angolan government is investing $1.8 billion for repairs Namibe Huíla 2005, and there are no plans to renovate it. Kuvango and the building of 16 stations between Munhango and Luau, a ZAMBIA distance of 408km. The China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corpo- Lubango Amboim railway Menongue ration is in charge of the project and it is hoped that when the Matala Chamutete This small line is derelict and there are no current proposals for work is finished in 2011, the line will transport more than 100 its restoration. Namibe tonnes of freight a day. Words by Nina Hobson Chiange Luanda railway Kuando Kubango Illustrations by David Atkinson The service from the Angolan capital Luanda to Malanje stopped in 2001 be- cause of the war and severe flooding. Cunene Today, services run from Luanda to Viana, a suburb in the east, and to Dondo, located 180km further to Oshikango the east. NAMIBIA The reconstruction project Luanda line train 50 SONANGOL UNIVERSO SUMMER 2009 51 SU22.map.pp50-51:SU22 18/5/09 12:37 Page 52