Dangote expands petroleum network across Africa, invests in pipelines and storage

Dangote Industries Limited President and CEO, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans to establish an extensive petroleum distribution network across Africa, focusing on pipelines, storage facilities, and strategic supply corridors. This expansion was disclosed in a statement issued by the Dangote Group on October 21, 2026. The company aims to address supply challenges, reduce logistical bottlenecks, and enhance the continent’s energy security.

Dangote emphasized the need for African governments to protect domestic industries from unfair foreign competition, warning that dependence on imported products could undermine local manufacturing and employment. He disclosed that the Group had acquired a 25% stake in a petroleum products pipeline network in Kenya and is pursuing similar projects in Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Namibia.

Dangote described this expansion as part of a broader strategy to create an integrated African energy supply system connecting major refining centers with markets that traditionally relied on imported petroleum products and fragmented distribution networks.

The company plans to build a distribution corridor linking Djibouti with Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, including tank farms to support storage and movement of petroleum products. Another project in Cameroon is nearing completion, while Namibia has been identified as a strategic location for expansion into Southern Africa. Namibia’s location, near the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, would facilitate an efficient supply route into the region, allowing refined petroleum products to be transported from Lagos to Namibia for distribution to markets like Botswana and South Africa.

Additionally, Dangote outlined a proposed corridor through Zimbabwe and Zambia, aiming to extend the network across multiple African markets. The Group is also planning to establish another refinery in Lamu, Kenya, with a projected capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day. This refinery would be fueled by crude oil sourced from various markets, reducing dependency on Uganda or Kenya.

Dangote highlighted the need for African governments to safeguard domestic manufacturers from unfair foreign competition, arguing that unrestricted imports could deprive the continent of jobs and exacerbate poverty.

The Dangote Group has budgeted approximately $50 billion for investments between 2026 and 2030, positioning this programme as part of a larger effort to demonstrate Africa’s capability to undertake large-scale industrial projects. Dangote expressed confidence that African governments and entrepreneurs are increasingly acknowledging the necessity to take charge of the continent’s industrial future and promote industrial transformation.