Refinery in africa
Project Overview
Fox & Waterman served as developer and co-owner in partnership with a leading national entity, for a new refinery project in Sub Saharan Africa. Our team originated, structured, and advanced the project from initial concept through full commissioning, establishing a strategic national asset designed to strengthen domestic refining capacity and long-term energy security.
Duration: 46 Months (Multi Phase Development & Execution
Location: Sub Saharan Africa
Client / Partner: Joint Ownership & Partnership with an African national Oil Company (NOC)
The Challenge
The host country sought to reduce dependence on imported fuels and capture greater value from domestic crude. The project required a developer owner capable of structuring equity, arranging financing, securing and acquiring land, navigating permitting, contracting EPC partners, establishing crude supply and refined product offtake, and overseeing execution through commissioning — all while coordinating multiple ministries and national stakeholders.
Our Role
Fox & Waterman led the full development lifecycle, including:
• Project origination and concept definition• Equity structuring and co ownership framework with the national partner• Financial structuring and coordination of debt and strategic investors• Land identification, acquisition, and integration into the ownership structure• Permitting strategy and regulatory approvals across national authorities• Market, feedstock, and product offtake analysis• Crude supply and refined product offtake structuring• Technical definition, development planning, and pre-FEED preparation• EPC tendering strategy, contractor evaluation, and contracting• Owner level oversight of EPC execution• Commissioning oversight and transition to operations
impact
The refinery was successfully taken from concept to commissioning under a clear, de risked development and ownership structure. Financing pathways were secured, land was acquired and permitted, EPC partners contracted, and commercial agreements for crude supply and product offtake established. The asset entered operations with aligned national stakeholders and a long term framework for sustainable performance.