Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote has initiated a $2.5 billion fuel storage and regional pipeline development in Walvis Bay, Namibia, targeting a structural overhaul of Southern Africa’s refined petroleum distribution network.
Official project details confirmed during Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony alongside Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah indicate the investment comprises a 600-million-litre tank farm and a proposed 1,700-kilometre cross-border pipeline.
The primary storage complex, situated at Farm 58 east of Walvis Bay, will hold 360 million litres of diesel and 240 million litres of petrol, linked via a 16-kilometre jetty line.
Construction of the bulk storage terminal is projected to span 18 to 20 months, laying the groundwork to supply landlocked markets including Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The strategic hub will serve as a key off-take and logistics gateway for refined products originating from the 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos.
By establishing direct maritime import capabilities at Walvis Bay, the infrastructure aims to eliminate supply vulnerabilities, reduce long-haul trucking overheads, and lower energy freight premiums across the SADC block.
The Namibian expansion aligns with Dangote Industries’ broader continental growth trajectory, coinciding with aggressive downstream integration plans across Sub-Saharan Africa and an expanded $60 billion total African investment commitment by 2030.
