Dangote Industries has initiated the regulatory approval process for a proposed 1.6 million-barrel petroleum storage terminal in Namibia, marking the first formal step toward expanding its fuel distribution network across Southern Africa.
The company, through Dangote Industries Namibia Ltd, has applied for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for the subdivision of about 70 hectares of industrial land on Farm 58 in Walvis Bay, according to documents released as part of the environmental scoping process.
The proposed development is expected to strengthen Namibia's strategic fuel storage capacity while positioning the Port of Walvis Bay as a regional hub for distributing refined petroleum products across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The current application is limited to securing approval for the land subdivision required for the project. According to the environmental scoping assessment, construction of the storage terminal cannot commence until a separate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed and approved after the ECC is issued and the subdivision receives regulatory clearance.
As part of the proposal, Dangote plans to divide the property into six development parcels, alongside portions designated for public roads and municipal infrastructure, creating the layout for the planned petroleum storage complex.
According to Reuters, the facility is expected to store at least 1.6 million barrels of petrol and diesel and supply markets including Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with southern Democratic Republic of Congo also identified as a potential destination.
The project forms part of Dangote's broader African expansion strategy following the commissioning of its 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Nigeria, which has been increasing exports of refined petroleum products across the continent.
The refinery, developed by Dangote Group founder Aliko Dangote at a reported cost of N$330 billion, is among the world's largest single-train refining facilities and continues to ramp up production as it targets a larger share of Africa's downstream fuel market.
A public consultation meeting on the proposed subdivision has been scheduled to take place in Walvis Bay next week as part of the environmental approval process.
The latest move builds on Dangote's engagement with Namibia last year, when Aliko Dangote visited the country for meetings with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab, before touring the Port of Walvis Bay.