Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans to construct a new 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery in East Africa, marking a major expansion of his industrial footprint beyond Nigeria. The move is aimed at strengthening Africa’s refining capacity and reducing the continent’s heavy reliance on imported fuel products.
Speaking at a presidential panel during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, Dangote said his company is ready to replicate the scale of its Lagos-based refinery if East African governments provide the necessary support. He noted that discussions are still at an early stage but expressed confidence that the project is achievable given his experience in delivering large-scale infrastructure.
The proposed refinery aligns with ongoing regional efforts by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to establish a joint refining hub in Tanga, Tanzania. The facility is expected to process crude from multiple sources, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, as part of a broader strategy to enhance regional energy security.
Dangote also revealed that his group is expanding its Nigerian refinery to 1.4 million barrels per day, which would make it the largest in the world. He stressed that Africa must prioritise local production to avoid global price shocks, citing volatility in petrochemical markets as a key example of the risks tied to import dependence.
Kenyan President William Ruto confirmed ongoing talks with Dangote and regional partners, noting that the refinery project would support a pipeline linking Mombasa to Tanga. Energy experts believe the initiative could significantly reshape Africa’s fuel landscape, reduce import dependency, and position the continent as a more self-sufficient energy producer.
source: punch