Dangote Refinery Eyes East African Expansion, Targets Kenya and Uganda Partnerships

News in brief:

-Nigeria's Dangote Group plans a large-scale refinery in East Africa, subject to government support.

-The project aims to deepen industrialisation, reduce imports and strengthen regional trade.

Aliko Dangote has revealed plans to expand his refining operations into East Africa, in a move aimed at strengthening industrial capacity and reducing Africa’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

Speaking at the Africa We Build summit in Nairobi, Dangote stated that the group is prepared to construct a refinery similar in scale to its 650,000 barrels-per-day facility in Nigeria, provided there is strong policy alignment and support from governments in the region.

Regional Partnerships Key to Execution

The proposed project is expected to be delivered within four years and will be developed in partnership with East African countries, including Kenya and Uganda. The refinery is projected to serve a wider regional market spanning Tanzania, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dangote stressed that consistency in government policy and institutional backing would be critical to unlocking such large-scale investment, noting that uncertainty has historically discouraged long-term capital deployment across Africa.

Push for Value Addition and Industrial Growth

Dangote criticised the continent’s reliance on exporting raw materials while importing finished goods, describing the model as detrimental to economic growth and job creation.

The refinery plan forms part of the Dangote Group’s broader strategy to invest $40 billion across key sectors, including petrochemicals, fertiliser and manufacturing, by 2030.

Leaders Back Industrialisation Drive

Kenyan President William Ruto said Africa has the resources, capital and market size required to industrialise, urging stronger regional cooperation to maximise economies of scale.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also underscored the importance of value addition, warning that exporting unprocessed raw materials continues to deprive African economies of significant revenue.

Stakeholders at the summit emphasised the need to build integrated industrial systems linking energy, manufacturing, mining and logistics, with the proposed refinery expected to catalyse broader economic development.

Dangote also called for visa-free movement across African countries, arguing that current travel restrictions hinder trade and economic integration.

The expansion comes as the Dangote refinery in Nigeria continues to scale operations, supplying most of the country’s aviation fuel demand while exporting significant volumes to international markets.

Analysts say the planned East Africa refinery could reshape regional energy supply chains and accelerate Africa’s transition towards industrial self-sufficiency.