China boosted it’s ties with resource-rich African countries through plans to build new oil refineries in Niger and Chad.

State-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) struck a $5billion deal with Niger’s government to pump oil from the Agadem block within three years, and build a 2 000km pipeline to export it.

The corporation will also build the country’s first refinery which will be able to refine 20 000 barrels of oil a day – exceeding Niger’s current consumption of about 7 000 barrels.

And in neighbouring Chad, CNPC will establish a refinery in N’Djamena to refine 20 000 barrels a day from 2011, rising later to 60,000 a day.