China Petrochemical Corp, Asia's top refiner, is expanding in Africa through investment and social involvement, Du Juan reports

As Africa becomes increasingly important in the global energy structure, with growing proven reserves of oil and natural gas, China Petrochemical Corp has big plans for the continent.

In the next five years, the company - usually called Sinopec - plans to invest another $20 billion in Africa and deepen cooperation and exchanges with African governments, companies, people and other stakeholders, said Fu Chengyu, chairman of Sinopec.

Having operated in Africa for the past 20 years, the company's assets there totaled $22 billion as of June 30, according to its official statements.

As of the end of last year, it was doing business in 15 countries across Africa, with operations spanning upstream exploration and development, petroleum and petrochemical engineering services, oil trading, geothermal projects and refining investment.

Africa was Sinopec's first step toward internationalization back in the 1990s. Since 1993, Sinopec has been providing the continent with oilfield services, helping the local exploration industry.

The years of effort have paid off for both sides. In 2012, Sinopec's overseas assets accounted for 36.5 percent of its total assets, and overseas sales represented 31.6 percent of the total.

Meanwhile, the company paid more than $4.3 billion in taxes and fees to various governments in Africa last year and created more than 9,000 jobs.

Sinopec's latest move in Africa came on Nov 14, when it completed the acquisition of one-third of Apache Corp's Egyptian oil and gas business for $3.1 billion.

Apache is an independent United States-based upstream oil and gas company, which has 24 contractual blocks in Egypt.

The two sides formed a global strategic partnership on Aug 30.

Most energy resources in politically stable African countries have already been taken up by the international oil giants from developed countries, so China's players have to buy assets in riskier locations to satisfy soaring domestic demand.

However, Sinopec said the operations in Egypt aren't being affected by political turmoil.

In 2009, the company bought Addax Petroleum, a Swiss company that was listed in Toronto and London.

Sinopec Addax Petroleum has become a key overseas subsidiary, accounting for about one-third of Sinopec's total overseas oil output. The subsidiary's oil and gas assets in Africa are mainly in Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.