East Africa to Get Giant Oil Refinery as Dangote Expands Footprint
By Burnett Munthali……….
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has pledged to build a 650,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in East Africa, mirroring his Lagos mega-refinery, as the continent seeks to reduce its reliance on fuel imports.
The proposed facility, likely to be located in Tanzania, would process crude oil from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Dangote made the announcement at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, emphasizing the need for Africa to achieve self-sufficiency in fuel production.
The refinery would be a significant step towards reducing the region’s dependence on imported petroleum products, which has left economies vulnerable to global price volatility and supply disruptions.
The project is expected to take around four to five years to complete, with Dangote’s company leading the development.
The refinery’s capacity would match that of his Nigerian facility, which has already helped Nigeria become a net exporter of petroleum products.
Dangote’s expansion plans align with broader efforts by African nations to boost domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imports.
The proposed East African refinery would serve multiple countries, enhancing energy security and potentially stabilizing fuel prices across the region.
