Botswana President Duma Boko is on a state visit to Angola, where the two countries have agreed to deepen economic cooperation, particularly in trade, energy and regional connectivity.
A key outcome of the visit is an agreement to accelerate discussions around Botswana’s participation in the Lobito Corridor, a major regional transport route with the potential to provide the landlocked country with an alternative route for moving goods to international markets.
The two countries also discussed Botswana’s interest in taking an equity stake in a strategic refinery project in Angola.
Angola has acknowledged Botswana’s expression of interest in becoming a shareholder in the refinery, which has been described as strategically important to strengthening regional energy security and improving the resilience of fuel supplies.
Botswana is considering acquiring up to a 30 per cent stake in the project. Such an investment could help the country diversify its sources of fuel supply while reducing its vulnerability to disruptions in the regional energy market.
Zimbabwe has also reportedly expressed interest in participating in the refinery project, highlighting the growing regional interest in joint investments aimed at improving energy security across Southern Africa.
Following the discussions between the two countries, technical teams are expected to speed up negotiations on the terms, conditions and modalities for Botswana’s possible participation in the project.
The proposed refinery investment, alongside cooperation on the Lobito Corridor, is expected to strengthen economic links between Botswana and Angola while supporting broader regional trade and energy integration.
The developments come as Southern African countries increasingly explore cross-border infrastructure and energy partnerships to improve trade routes, fuel security and access to international markets.
