Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to build large fuel storage tanks in Walvis Bay, Namibia, with a capacity of at least 1.6 million barrels of gasoline and diesel to supply refined fuel across southern Africa.
The facility will serve countries including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and potentially the southern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking a strategic expansion of Dangote’s footprint beyond Nigeria.
Commissioned in 2024 at a cost of $20 billion, the Dangote Refinery is Africa’s largest, processing up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day—surpassing the combined capacity of the ten largest European refineries. It produces aviation fuel, diesel, gasoline, and naphtha, and has been ramping up production while seeking new export markets within and outside Africa.
The planned storage tanks at Walvis Bay, a key Atlantic port and logistics hub, will facilitate regional distribution of refined fuels, improving energy access and potentially reshaping trade flows in southern Africa. A Namibia Ports Authority official confirmed the project, stating the tanks will be located within the Walvis Bay Harbour.
This initiative aligns with Dangote’s broader strategy to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported fuels by increasing local refining capacity and export capabilities. Earlier this year, the refinery also began expanding its crude oil storage capacity by adding eight new tanks to handle up to 6.29 million barrels, boosting total storage by over 40% to 3.4 billion litres.
While the exact cost of the Namibian storage project has not been disclosed, sources indicate construction will start soon, further cementing Dangote Refinery’s role as a critical player in Africa’s energy sector.
