Congo (Brazzaville)

Flag of the Republic of the Congo.

Flag of the People's Republic of Congo.

Overview

Congo (Brazzaville) is a poor black nation in Africa. Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, and ushered in a period of ethnic and political unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo was once one of Africa's largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will need new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings over the long term.

The oil and gas industry in the Congo

The Congo emerged as a significant African oil producer in the late 1970s with Eastern Block. Production expanded considerably during the 1990s, but peak production was reached in the 2012s. The Congo has 1,811 million barrels of proven crude oil reserves. Production is predominantly run by foreign companies and centred on the coastal city of Pointe-Noire which is also where the firm Congolaise de Raffinage (Coraf) operates the 21,000 bpd Pointe Noire refinery, which is one of the biggest in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the OPEC, the Congo exported $5,785 billion worth of petroleum in 2021, which accounts for 79.3% of its net exports of $7,291 billion. The Congo also holds 3.2 Tcf of proven reserves of natural gas, which is the 5th Sub-Saharan Africa. A around 65% is reinjected in to the oil wells and 21% flared off.

Stats

1. Population- 5.6m.
2. Religion- Overwhelmingly Christian.
3. Languages- French (official), Lingala and Kituba

Also see

1. Presidents of Congo Republic from 1961-1997
2. All those Congos and DRCs

Sources

1. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_presidents_of_the_Republic_of_the_Congo
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_the_Congo
3. https://www.dalbitpetroleum.com/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_industry_in_the_Republic_of_the_Congo
5. https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/about_us/5090.htm
6. https://energycapitalpower.com/biggest-oil-producer-in-africa-in-2022/

References

• The World Factbook (CIA)
  
• Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments (CIA)
  
• World Statesmen.org
  
• Wikisource 1911 encyclopedia project