President Nandi-Ndaitwah Launches US$2.5 Billion Dangote Energy Project in Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay could become an increasingly important centre for fuel storage and distribution in Southern Africa following a major investment announcement by Nigeria’s Dangote Group.
The group’s proposed US$2.5 billion Namibia Tank Farm and Regional Pipeline Project was officially launched by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at Farm 58 in Walvis Bay on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
At the centre of the development is a planned petroleum storage facility capable of holding 600 million litres of fuel. The project also includes an approximately 1,700-kilometre pipeline network designed to connect regional markets and improve the movement of petroleum products.
The investment is expected to strengthen Namibia’s position in the regional energy industry, particularly by improving fuel distribution to landlocked countries that depend on transport routes through neighbouring states.
The development follows discussions between President Nandi-Ndaitwah and Dangote Group founder and chairman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, which started during their first meeting in June 2025.
However, moving the investment towards implementation has required government intervention. The President revealed that she had placed the project under the Office of the President’s supervision to help overcome administrative obstacles that could slow its progress.
She made it clear that government institutions must treat the development as a priority and work together to ensure that the investment moves beyond its launch stage.
For the President, the project’s importance also lies in how much of its economic value will reach Namibian communities. She called for local companies to be included in the project’s activities and emphasised the need for employment, technical training and opportunities for young people.
She also stressed that Namibia should use investments of this scale to strengthen its industrial capacity rather than focus only on infrastructure development. These objectives form part of the country’s broader economic ambitions under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
Dangote, meanwhile, used the occasion to outline his group’s broader vision for African investment, arguing that the continent should develop industries capable of meeting its own economic needs.
He maintained that African countries should make greater use of their natural resources, workforce and markets instead of relying heavily on external investment and industrial capacity.
The Nigerian businessman also indicated that his group’s interest in Namibia could extend beyond the current project, suggesting that additional investments in other sectors could be considered.
He said the group’s approach to doing business across the continent was based on building long-term relationships and contributing to the economies in which it operates.
Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses welcomed the proposed development, pointing to the region’s importance in connecting Namibia with international and regional markets.
The investment is also expected to contribute to wider African development objectives, particularly the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which promotes economic integration, industrial growth and stronger trade connections between African countries.
The US$2.5 billion investment represents a significant addition to Namibia’s energy and infrastructure development plans, with the proposed storage and pipeline facilities expected to strengthen the country’s role in petroleum distribution and regional trade.
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