[Haichuan Overseas Engineering] Successful first lifting of the steel structure for the Lobito refinery project in Angola

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Recently, the first steel structure lifting operation for the Lobito refinery project in Angola, undertaken by the Angola branch of China National Chemical Engineering Third Construction Co., Ltd., was successfully completed. This marks the official transition of the project construction from the foundation-building phase to the critical stage of steel structure installation. The steel structure of Pipe Gallery B, which was successfully lifted this time, plays a crucial role in supporting subsequent process pipelines, cable trays, and other essential facilities. The precision of its lifting and the safety of the construction process directly determine the pace and quality of the overall project development. To ensure the smooth progress of the lifting operations, the project team planned in advance, formed a dedicated team, and, taking into account the local conditions in Angola as well as the project’s technical requirements, conducted repeated analyses to develop a scientific special plan ； Invite industry experts to conduct multiple rounds of reviews to optimize the lifting angle, placement of lifting points, and emergency response procedures ； Strictly implement safety technical briefings, conduct comprehensive training for all workers throughout the entire process, verify each piece of critical equipment and steel structure component one by one, and repeatedly calculate the load-bearing capacity of the worksite as well as the required safety distances from surrounding areas. All these measures are taken to establish a solid defense line for safety and quality, adhering to the principle of “zero oversights”. At the construction site, the project team worked closely together; from lifting the components, adjusting their position in the air, to placing them in place accurately and tightening the bolts, each step was carried out efficiently, ultimately achieving the goal of \"lifting once, placing in place once, and passing inspection once\". The successful completion of the lifting operation effectively addressed the issues associated with long installation times and high coordination challenges in the installation of steel structures for large-scale overseas energy projects, providing a replicable and scalable model for the advancement of subsequent tasks such as large-scale steel structure installation. As a prime example of China Chemical Engineering’s efforts to penetrate the high-end engineering market in Africa and implement the “T+EPC” full-industry-chain model, the Lobito Refinery Project effectively integrates China’s advanced engineering technologies, proven project management expertise, and localized resource allocation capabilities. It not only demonstrates China Chemical Engineering’s core competitiveness in the international energy engineering sector, but also lays a solid foundation for regional energy security and industrial chain upgrading. Upon completion, the project will effectively fill the gap in local high-end oil refining facilities, significantly improve the rate of local crude oil processing and conversion, and help resolve the long-standing issues of insufficient crude oil processing capacity and an underdeveloped energy industry chain.