Dangote Industries Limited, led by President and Chief Executive Aliko Dangote, has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand its refining operations to a combined 2.1 million barrels per day across Nigeria and Kenya, marking one of the most significant private-sector industrial expansion strategies on the African continent.
The announcement was disclosed in Lagos during a high-level engagement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and a delegation from the Republic of the Congo’s national oil company, Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), focused on regional energy cooperation and industrial partnership opportunities.
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According to Devakumar Edwin, Group Vice President, Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, the proposed expansion would see refining capacity rise to 1.4 million barrels per day in Nigeria, alongside a planned 700,000 barrels per day facility in Kenya aimed at strengthening East African fuel supply chains.
Edwin also confirmed that the group intends to invest an additional $46 billion between 2026 and 2028 across its refining, cement and fertiliser operations, a move described as part of a wider strategy to deepen industrialisation and energy security across Africa.
The discussions with SNPC centred on potential collaboration in refining operations, petroleum product supply, technical knowledge exchange and regional energy integration, with both sides exploring frameworks for long-term cooperation.
Leading the Congolese delegation, SNPC Managing Director Maixent Raoul Ominga described the Dangote refinery as a landmark industrial achievement for Africa, noting that the country was keen to explore strategic partnerships that could strengthen refined product supply and industrial capacity.
Ominga said the engagement highlighted shared priorities around energy security and regional value chains, while praising the Dangote Group’s broader investments across the continent, particularly in cement production within the Republic of the Congo.
Aliko Dangote, speaking during the meeting, reaffirmed the group’s long-term commitment to Africa’s industrial transformation, stressing that its investments are driven by continental rather than national priorities.
“We are for Africa, not just Nigeria. Tell us what you need, and we will see how we can work together,” Dangote said, emphasising the group’s openness to regional collaboration.
He added that the refinery has already set new benchmarks for fuel quality in Africa by producing petroleum products that meet international standards, reducing reliance on imported refined fuel and supporting cleaner energy access across the continent.
The proposed expansion into Kenya is expected to play a strategic role in serving East African markets, while reinforcing the group’s position as a central player in Africa’s downstream oil sector.
The visit by SNPC officials formed part of broader discussions on industrial cooperation, with both organisations expressing interest in strengthening Africa’s internal energy systems and reducing external dependence.
The meeting also highlighted growing momentum around private-sector-led industrialisation, with stakeholders pointing to the importance of large-scale infrastructure, cross-border investment and regional integration in achieving long-term economic resilience.
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With the planned expansion and multi-billion-dollar investment programme, Dangote Industries Limited continues to position itself at the centre of Africa’s evolving energy and industrial landscape, signalling a new phase of ambition in the continent’s refining capacity story.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
