Russia, Republic of the Congo to sign agreement on building oil product pipeline in Africa

BRAZZAVILLE. March 17 (Interfax) - Russia and the Republic of the Congo plan to sign an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of a pipeline to transport oil products in the Central African country with the involvement of Russian companies, Russian Ambassador Georgy Chepik told reporters.

He said a decision on the need to sign an intergovernmental agreement on the project was made at the sixth session of the intergovernmental trade and economic commission in September 2022.

"This agreement is expected to be signed before the Russia-Africa summit and a joint venture will probably be created that will already handle practical issues, and a concession agreement will be signed," Chepik said. The Russia-Africa summit will be held in St. Petersburg in July 2023.

The pipeline will run between the country's largest cities, Pointe-Noire and the capital of Brazzaville, he said. "It is named after the points through which it will pass: Pointe-Noire - Lutete - Maloukou-Trechot," Chepik added.

Russian company ZNGS-Prometey has shown interest in the project, he said. "It is the one that will probably be mentioned in the intergovernmental agreement," Chepik said.