The Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will consider helping finance a 40,000 barrels per day oil refinery in member-state Chad, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

Chad's Economy and Planning Minister Ousmane Matar Breme asked Ahmed Mohammed Ali, the head of the 56-member IDB, to "contribute to the construction of a ... refinery in the capital N'Djamena which will be jointly-developed by ... Chad and China," SPA said.

"The two parties agreed ... to examine the details of the project and the possibility of a financial contribution from the bank (IDB)," it said.

The refinery aims at supplying both the domestic market and neighbour countries, it added. - Reuters