Iran and Sierra Leone are negotiating a construction of oil refineries in the West African country, starting with an oil storage depots, according to TradeArabia.

The National Iranian Oil Engineering Company (NIOEC) has already held talks with countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa to build or buy stakes in foreign refineries to secure long-term purchases of Iranian crude, Aliasgar Sajedi, NIOEC Director was quoted in an Iran Daily report.

Sajedi said that buying shares in foreign oil refineries  would guarantee marketing of Iranian crude in different parts of the world for the next 20 to 25 years, Foot Print to Africa reported.

Tehran has recently put a special priority on boosting ties with African states.

 The move is Iran’s response to growing pressure by Western governments over its alleged nuclear ambition, Foot Print to Africa wrote.