Dangote unveils Namibia energy project

Nigerian industrialist and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, is set to expand his group’s footprint in Africa’s petroleum market with the unveiling of a major fuel storage and regional pipeline project in Namibia.

The project, located at Walvis Bay, is expected to position Namibia as a strategic petroleum distribution hub for Southern Africa, strengthening fuel supply networks and improving access to refined petroleum products across the region.

Namibia’s President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, is expected to officiate the launch of the Dangote Namibia Tank Farm and Regional Pipeline Project on Wednesday, November 4, at Farm 58, outside Walvis Bay.

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The ceremony attracted senior government officials, regional leaders and industry stakeholders.

The proposed storage facility is designed to accommodate at least 1.6 million barrels of petrol and diesel, providing storage capacity for refined products from Dangote’s refinery in Lagos and supporting distribution to neighbouring countries.

The facility is expected to serve Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with the possibility of extending supplies to the southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The project also includes supporting infrastructure such as dispensing facilities, a truck loading terminal and an approximately 16-kilometre pipeline connecting the fuel jetty to the storage complex, according to reports on the development.

Beyond the storage terminal, Dangote’s broader plan involves developing an extensive regional petroleum pipeline network linking Walvis Bay to other Southern African markets.

The proposed network, estimated at more than 2,600 kilometres, is expected to run through Botswana, with connections towards South Africa and another corridor through Zimbabwe and Zambia to the DRC.

The pipeline project has been estimated to require more than $3.5 billion in investment.

The development is part of Dangote’s wider strategy to establish an integrated African petroleum supply and distribution network, combining refining capacity with storage terminals, pipelines and logistics infrastructure across different regions of the continent.

Speaking recently about the expansion, Dangote said the group was pursuing investments in petroleum distribution infrastructure across Africa to address supply challenges and improve the movement of refined products between countries.

He also disclosed plans involving pipeline and storage infrastructure in Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Cameroon, alongside the Namibia project.

The Namibian investment is expected to strengthen Walvis Bay’s position as a regional trade and logistics gateway, particularly for landlocked countries that depend on coastal ports for the importation of petroleum products.

It could also create opportunities for local businesses in construction, engineering, transportation, logistics, maintenance, and other support services, while expanding economic activities around the port.

For Dangote, the project provides an additional export route for products from his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos, which commenced operations in 2024 and has been expanding its reach beyond Nigeria and the West African market.

The development comes amid growing efforts by African countries and private investors to strengthen regional energy infrastructure, reduce supply bottlenecks and improve access to petroleum products.

However, the wider pipeline network will require further development, regulatory approvals and cooperation among the countries involved before it can become fully operational.