Dangote Refinery plans to build 1.6m-barrel fuel storage tanks in Namibia, beginning shortly in Walvis Bay harbour
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Dangote Refinery plans to build storage tanks in Namibia to hold at least 1.6 million barrels of petrol and diesel, to initially supply four southern African countries then expand to other parts of the region.
The move underscores the refinery’s ambition to dominate fuel supply in Africa and beyond, potentially reshaping energy trade flows in the region and boosting access to refined products for southern African nations, according to Reuters.
The 650,000 barrels per day refinery, built at a cost of $20 billion by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, started operations last year and has been ramping up production and seeking new markets.
Reuters quoted two sources briefed on the plan as having disclosed that the storage tanks would be used to supply petrol and diesel to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
It was not immediately clear how much the project would cost, but the second source said construction of the storage tanks would begin shortly in the port city of Walvis Bay.
A Namibia Ports Authority official confirmed the plan and said the storage tanks would be housed within the Walvis Bay harbour.
A source disclosed last month that a Dangote fuel cargo was heading to Asia, the first time the refinery was selling the commodity outside the West Africa region.
Dangote Refinery says at full capacity, the plant would produce enough to meet demand in Nigeria, which has sharply cut imports of processed fuels, and export the rest.
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