Stronger connections An oil pipeline deal is expected to strengthen economic ties between Angola and Zambia. At an estimated cost of US$5 billion, the Angola Zambia Oil Pipeline (AZOP) will facilitate the supply of oil products from Angola’s Lobito refinery to Lusaka and promote economic integration of the two SADC countries, according to a Macau Hub report. Together with the ongoing construction of Angola’s Cabinda refinery and the modernisation of its Luanda refinery, the Lobito refinery is expected to increase Angola’s refining capacity to 300 000 barrels of crude oil per day, according to Angola’s Minister for Oil and Mineral Resources, Diamantino Azevedo. 13 November 2018 Image: Alamy