Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed plans to construct a new 650,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) oil refinery in East Africa, a project that could reshape the region’s energy landscape and challenge the dominance of European and Middle Eastern fuel imports.
Dangote made this known on Thursday while speaking during a presidential panel at the “Africa We Build Summit,” in Nairobi, Kenya.
The billionaire industrialist, who said the proposed facility would match the scale of the company’s existing $20 billion refinery in Lagos, Nigeria, expressed the willingness of his company to embark on the project if regional leaders are ready to give their support.
The proposed refinery is expected to be a joint venture involving the governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Speaking at the Nairobi infrastructure summit, Dangote said the refinery is expected to be completed in the next four or five years if all things align.
“I can give commitment to the two presidents (Ruto and Museveni) who are here. If they will support the refinery, we’ll build the identical one that we have in Nigeria, 650,000 barrels,” Dangote stated.
“There’s nothing that can stop it. We have done the one in Nigeria, and that’s why we’re taking the bold move, which we have started already.”
He said efforts are ongoing to expand the refinery in Nigeria from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day, becoming the largest refinery in the world.
He said the proposed refinery in East Africa would process crude oil sourced from across the region, adding that it is expected to serve Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The move aims to end the region’s heavy reliance on fuel imports, which have recently seen heightened price volatility and supply risks due to tensions in the Middle East.
While planning for East Africa, the facility in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, recently hit major milestones, reaching full capacity of 650,000 bpd, making it the first single-train refinery globally.
READ ALSO:
- Dangote, NNPC Sign Landmark Gas Agreements to Boost Industrial Expansion
- NMDPRA Seeks World Bank’s Support in Mobilising $22bn for Africa-wide Gas Infrastructure Project
- Middle East War Threatens Africa’s Economic Gains — IMF’s Selassie Warns
- Dangote Urges FG to Resolve Power Challenges to Boost Industrial Growth
The plant has already become a major exporter, notably shipping over 1.1 billion litres of aviation fuel to European markets in early 2026.
Broader Industrial Vision
This expansion is part of Dangote’s “Vision 2030,” which includes a planned $40 billion multi-exchange Initial Public Offering (IPO). The funds are intended to finance not just the oil expansion but also massive investments in fertilizer production across Africa and mining operations in the DRC and Zambia.
This shift toward replicating the scale of infrastructure in Nigeria in other African regions suggests a strategy of creating integrated industrial ecosystems that prioritise value addition within Africa rather than exporting raw crude.
Dangote and other regional leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, present at the summit, argued that Africa’s economic model of exporting raw materials and importing finished goods is detrimental. They believe that building local refining capacity will keep more value within the continent, create jobs, and improve energy security.
Ruto confirmed there are ongoing discussions for a joint effort to build a refinery that would serve the region.
He also emphasised the need for Africa to develop the capacity to process its raw materials before export and expressed optimism that the regional refinery model would work.
While the proposed mega-refinery represents a long-term vision for regional self-sufficiency, it will coexist alongside existing national plans. Notably, Uganda intends to proceed with its own smaller, 60,000-bpd refinery in Hoima to serve its local market.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X