Namibia’s coastal hub, Walvis Bay, is at the centre of a major regional development plan after Aliko Dangote confirmed a proposal to channel fuel from the port into Southern Africa. The project, which includes a 2,000-km fuel pipeline starting in Namibia, is part of a broader investment agreement Dangote has signed with Zimbabwe.
The pipeline is expected to run from Walvis Bay through Botswana and end in Bulawayo, creating a strategic fuel corridor aimed at improving energy supply and reducing the region’s dependence on long-distance imports from Europe and Asia.
This forms part of a US$1 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Dangote and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The agreement is described as a major boost for Zimbabwe’s private-sector investment drive and a sign of confidence in the country’s economic reform efforts.
In addition to the pipeline, the MoU includes plans for a fertiliser plant and expanded industrial projects such as energy developments and cement production. These initiatives are expected to support Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda and strengthen economic ties within the region.
Dangote’s interest in linking Namibia to this regional infrastructure plan follows his earlier visit to the country, where he is also exploring the development of a fuel storage facility in Walvis Bay to support the project’s long-term supply needs.
