China steps in as Chad bets oil future on Beijing after Western exit

To revive its energy sector, the African country is counting on Chinese and UAE investment to fill vacuum left by oil majors

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Led by CNPC, Chad is set to expand its operations in existing oilfields and advance plans for a second refinery in the country’s east, as it pivots from partnerships with Western oil firms. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Published: 2:00pm, 10 Nov 2025Updated: 4:00pm, 10 Nov 2025

Battered by declining production and the departure of Western partners, Chad’s oil industry is betting its future on Beijing.

In a high-stakes diplomatic pivot, the landlocked central African country has aimed to double its current output of 150,000 barrels per day, relying on China and allies like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to revive its energy sector.

Leading the massive effort is the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), which according to Chadian officials, is set to expand its operations in existing fields and advance plans for a second refinery in the country’s east.

Beijing is “one of our most important partners and is always willing to support us in most of our projects”, said Khadidja Hassane Abdoulaye, Chad’s secretary of state for petroleum, mines and geology.

The aim is to help diversify the country’s energy supply and expand the existing Djarmaya oil refinery just north of the capital N’Djamena, which has a capacity of 8 million barrels per year, according to officials.

“[CNPC] is already active in the oil sector through its presence in oil exploitation in the southern basin,” Abdoulaye said. “It is also present in the oil sector at the exploration fields. It exploits the oil and refines it.”

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