• Chad targets 250,000 bpd oil output by 2030, up 69% from 2025
• Plan includes upstream expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and governance reforms
• Oil remains key to economy, driving over 60% of export revenue
  

Chad has adopted a new 2025-2030 strategic plan for its oil sector aimed at raising crude production to 250,000 barrels per day, according to local media reports on October 31. The target represents a roughly 69% increase from the current output of around 140,000 barrels per day.

To reach that goal, the plan prioritizes expanded exploration and production activity in the upstream segment, along with investment in refining and distribution capacity downstream. It also calls for upgrades to midstream infrastructure, including logistics, storage depots, and pipelines, while emphasizing stronger governance and local content to capture more value from the national oil chain. The roadmap outlines legal and institutional reforms intended to ensure transparency and operational efficiency.

The shift reflects the central role of hydrocarbons in Chad’s economy. According to 2024 data from credit rating agency Moody’s, oil accounts for about 60% of the country’s export revenue. Yet production has fallen, averaging 144,000 barrels per day in 2024 and dropping to 137,000 between January and May 2025, Energy Intelligence said in an August 2025 country report. The decline was attributed to weak investment and aging infrastructure.

Faced with these challenges, the government is seeking to leverage its oil resources better to support growth. The African Development Bank projects that Chad’s economy will expand by 5.3% in 2025, up from 5.2% in 2024, driven largely by renewed activity in the petroleum sector.

Abdel-Latif Boureima