OIL & GAS
I
t is safe to suggest that the world would not be where it is today without petroleum. Refined crude oil has shaped societies in a huge variety of ways, powering industrial development and mobility ever since the successful drilling of the first oil wells in Ontario, Canada, back in 1858. However, not all parts of the world have fully exploited the transformational benefits on offer. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the industry is primed for development, something which local operator LEREXCOM PETROLEUM (LP) is helping to accelerate. “Working in the petroleum space in
DRC is exciting and challenging at the same time,” comments Wilfrid Kilinda, the company’s Managing Director. “The sector is in need of development, as many parts of the country don’t have access to petroleum products because of a lack of infrastructure. “We are ready for roads and other industries to grow, and will respond to any situation put in front of us.” LP was founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Jean Lengo, Chairman and CEO of the Ledya Group, which has LEREXCOM PETROLEUM under its umbrella of companies. “This is one of many great achievements for our Executive Chairman,” adds Kilinda. “He has
a vision of promoting young generations and creating jobs. He took the risk of investing in a sector that was newly liberalised, and LP is the first company that took advantage of this development in the DRC.” Today LP stands as a leading private fuel logistics company dealing with storage and distribution of petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel. It operates out of two terminals – one with a storage capacity of 36,000 cubic metres near Matadi, the chief seaport in the country, and another in the industrial zone of Maluku, in Kinshasa, with a storage capacity of 22,000 cubic metres.
Africa Outlook issue 83 | 85
