Dangote Industries Limited is poised to significantly expand its refining footprint across Africa, targeting a combined refining capacity of 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in Nigeria and Kenya. This strategic move is central to the conglomerate’s long-term vision for enhanced regional industrialisation and energy security.
The ambitious expansion plans were revealed by Devakumar Edwin, Group Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, during a recent visit by a delegation from the Republic of the Congo’s national oil company, Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos. This disclosure, made in a statement by the Dangote Group, underscores the company’s commitment to scaling its operations and solidifying its position as a key player in the African energy landscape.
Edwin detailed that the projected 2.1 million bpd capacity will be comprised of 1.4 million bpd in Nigeria, alongside a planned 700,000 bpd refining complex in Kenya, specifically designed to cater to East African markets. Furthermore, the group intends to inject an additional $46 billion between 2026 and 2028, spanning its refining, cement, and fertiliser businesses, as part of a broader initiative to accelerate industrial development across the continent.
The visit by the SNPC delegation was instrumental in fostering discussions around a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering the Republic of the Congo’s supply of refined petroleum products, while simultaneously advancing regional energy cooperation and industrial integration. Maixent Raoul Ominga, SNPC Managing Director, lauded the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as a “strategic asset for Africa” and expressed keen interest in a long-term collaboration.
Ominga highlighted the refinery as a “major industrial achievement for Africa” and indicated the Republic of the Congo’s desire to explore cooperative ventures that would strengthen its refined petroleum product supply chain and generate mutual value. Discussions between the two entities centred on opportunities within refining, petroleum product supply, energy security, industrial development, and knowledge sharing. He further commended Dangote Group for demonstrating Africa’s capability to finance, construct, and operate world-class industrial infrastructure, marking the refinery as a pivotal moment in the continent’s industrial transformation. The SNPC Managing Director also acknowledged Dangote’s existing investments in the Republic of the Congo’s cement sector, which have demonstrably enhanced local industrial capacity and material accessibility.
Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, reiterated the group’s unwavering dedication to Africa’s industrialisation through value addition, fostering regional partnerships, and strategic investments. His statement, “We are for Africa, not just Nigeria. Tell us what you need, and we will see how we can work together,” signals an open invitation for collaborative ventures across the continent.
Dangote emphasised that the refinery has set a new benchmark for fuel quality in Africa, producing petroleum products that adhere to the highest international specifications. This achievement not only improves access to cleaner fuels but also significantly reduces the continent’s reliance on refined product imports from outside Africa. The engagement between SNPC and Dangote Industries underscored a shared commitment to deepening African energy cooperation, strengthening regional value chains, and promoting greater self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products, thereby advancing the continent’s energy security and intra-African trade objectives.
Present at the discussions were Fatima Dangote, Group Executive Director, Commercial, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited; Peggy Ndongo, Adviser to the President of the Republic of the Congo; and Aymar Ebiou and Norbert Mabiala, advisers to the SNPC Managing Director.
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