Dangote Industries has announced plans to build a $3.5 billion Southern African pipeline network that will stretch across several countries for a distance of about 2,650 kilometers. The proposed infrastructure would therefore link Namibia via Botswana and South Africa, and a second line would run northwards through Zimbabwe and Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The budget was revealed during the formal IPO opening of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in September 2026. The Southern African pipeline network, meanwhile, is a key part of the company’s expansion plans across the continent.
The Dangote Southern African pipeline would start in Walvis Bay, Namibia, making the port a possible storage and distribution point. In particular, the network may be expanded to some 4,000 km of pipelines in Africa, if other proposed projects such as a Djibouti-Ethiopia pipeline are implemented. Thus, the $3.5 billion Southern African pipeline network is part of Dangote’s plans to build a continental refining and distribution business.
Another major project Dangote seems to be working on is the Southern African pipeline network. President William Ruto has met with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote in New York to discuss funding and final preparations for the planned East Africa Refinery in Lamu, Kenya. The meeting was held at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, and Africa Finance Corporation President and CEO Samaila Zubairu was in attendance as Kenya pushes the multibillion-dollar project.
Dangote Southern African Pipeline Addresses Regional Fuel Supply Diversification
Botswana is heavily dependent on fuel imports from South Africa, but has been looking for other sources via Namibia and Mozambique. The Dangote Southern African pipeline would be part of Botswana’s efforts to diversify its supply and minimize reliance on single-route transportation. In addition, South Africa uses around 27 billion litres of petroleum products each year, and is increasingly reliant on imports after the closure of domestic refineries.
Dangote Industries Namibia has begun an environmental approval process for about 70 hectares of industrial land on Farm 58, about 10 kilometers east of Walvis Bay. The 678,912-square-meter site would host a strategic petroleum storage facility with several “Dangote portions” to support the pipeline network infrastructure.
Pipeline Supports Refinery Capacity Doubling
Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to spend $14.3 billion to expand its production capacity from 700,000 to 1.4 million bpd by Q1 2029. The $3.5 billion Southern African pipeline network is the physical distribution infrastructure required to access the expanded markets with doubled production volumes. Further, the refinery is seeking to raise $1.6 billion via its initial public offering, with plans to list on the NYSE upon completion.
Project Overview
- Project Name: Dangote Southern African Pipeline Network
- Project Value: $3.5 Billion
- Total Planned Network: ~4,000 kilometers (all African routes)
- Location: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, DRC
- Developer: Dangote Industries
- Status: Proposed, preliminary environmental approvals underway
Scope
- 2,650-kilometer primary network
- Walvis Bay storage and distribution hub
- Cross-border petroleum product transportation
- Secondary DRC route via Zimbabwe and Zambia
- Strategic storage facilities development
Project Highlights
- $3.5 billion investment for Southern African segment
- Connects six countries across region
- Walvis Bay port as gateway hub
- Supports refinery capacity doubling strategy
- Regional fuel supply diversification
Key Developments
- Pipeline announced September 17, 2026
- Farm 58 environmental approvals initiated
- 1.6 million barrel storage facility planned Walvis Bay
- Refinery IPO underway for expansion funding
- Cross-border approvals pending
Key Challenges
- Multi-country regulatory approvals required
- Engineering studies and land agreements needed
- Environmental assessments across borders
- Full $3.5 billion financing not yet confirmed
- Complex geopolitical coordination
Outlook
- October 2026 formal project launch planned
- Environmental approvals for Namibian storage facility
- Cross-border agreements under negotiation
- Construction timeline not yet announced
- Regional fuel distribution hub establishment
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