Brazzaville (AFP)

The French oil group Total has renewed for twenty years its contract for the management of the most important oil terminal which centralizes, off Pointe-Noire, all of the production of the Republic of Congo before export, we learned on Tuesday. to its managers.

"We have agreed to renew the concession of the Djeno Terminal, which is Total's historic anchor in the Congo, for 20 more years," said Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of Total after leaving a hearing with President Denis Sassou Nguesso in Oyo (north).

"In Congo, Total's story will continue in good confidence with the country's authorities," he said.

According to Jean-Marc Thystère Tchicaya, Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons, the first agreement between the two parties should end on November 18.

Until then, Total held 63% of the shares in the management of the Terminal against 37% for the Italian group Eni.

This contract is concluded as the Congolese state is looking for new sources of income after the 50% drop in its budget revenues and the long wait for funding from the International Monetary Fund.

According to the new provisions of the contract, management will now be carried out by a consortium which now includes the Congolese State.

"The Terminal will be shared between various companies and Total will be one of the main shareholders. The Republic of Congo will have its share as well as other operators such as Eni and Perenco", explained Mr. Pouyanné to the press.

The Djeno Terminal gathers all the cargoes coming from the various oil fields of Congo before their export.

Operational since 1972, it officially treats around 220,000 barrels per day.

A country rich in oil, this Central African country is currently facing several political and socio-economic challenges.

© 2020 AFP