Africa Oil & Gas: Total/Sonangol Retail Joint Venture

Total and Sonangol have established a JV company aimed at developing common retail and distribution activity in the country. The Total-Sonangol JV will initially focus on fuel distribution and lubricants sales on the business to consumer (B2C) segment, starting with a network of service-stations under the Total brand.

Depending on the outcome of the ongoing liberalization process, Total said it also intends to address petroleum products logistics and supply, including imports and primary storage of refined products through this partnership.

Under the current agreement, Sonangol will bring in 45 already existing urban and highway retail stations, with a key presence on selected locations in 10 coastal and central provinces. Total will work alongside Sonangol to rapidly develop this network, in order to meet the highest international retail standards and improve fuel quality distribution throughout the country.

The newly-established company will invest in both infrastructures and marketing activities and will benefit from Total’s expertise in retail and its customer-minded approach.