Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian billionaire, is bringing a $2.5 million fuel storage and regional pipeline project in Namibia’s Walvis Bay that has the potential to transform Southern Africa’s fuel supply infrastructure.
The project is among several major energy initiatives backed by Dangote, as he continues to expand his vast business empire across a continent heavily dependent on fuel imports and increasingly affected by the Iran war.
According to Dongate the tank terminal has scope for a 1,700 km pipeline connecting the hinterland countries of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and potentially the Democratic Republic of Congo
The launch ceremony of this project was attended by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and also Dangote stated that, “the pipeline project, once complete, would strengthen the energy independence of six African countries and help establish Walvis Bay as a fuel logistics hub.”
He also added that “For Namibia it is expected to moderate logistical vulnerabilities, high shipping costs and severe energy insecurity while promoting infrastructure warehousing,” he said.
The tank farm in this project will have a capacity of approximately 600 million litres, or some 360 million litres of diesel and the remainder petrol. Dangote informed the reporters that the project will be completed within the timeframe of 18 to 20 months.
Dangote is majorly known for his key roles in Dangote Group and he was appointed as member of the economic management team by president Goodluck Jonathan. As of August 2026, Dangote is the 35th wealthiest individual in the world along with that he is the wealthiest black individual and the wealthiest individual in Africa according to the 2025 ranking of the world’s billionaires by Forbes Real Time Billionaires and Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Dangote’s estimated net worth is US $51.7 billion as per information provided by Forbes and Bloomberg. He founded Dangote group in 1977 which started as a small company that traded commodities importing sugar ,salt and food products. Today Dangote Group is the largest industrial conglomerate in west Africa.