Nigeria and Angola Spearhead Africa’s Drive Toward Energy Independence
Nigeria and Angola are positioned to lead Africa’s ambitious push for energy independence as the continent’s refining capacity is projected to surge from 45% to 90%, according to the Africa Finance Corporation’s “State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2025.” This dramatic increase could fundamentally reshape Africa’s energy security landscape within the short term.
The transformation is primarily driven by Nigeria’s 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery and the planned revival of state-owned facilities including the Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries scheduled for 2024-2026. If fully utilized, Africa’s refining capacity could reduce import dependency from the current 55% to just 10%.
However, the AFC cautioned that achieving this vision requires substantial investment. Over $16 billion is needed for brownfield upgrades to modernize existing refineries and meet clean fuel standards, while greenfield investments in Nigeria and Angola remain critical for meeting future demand. The report emphasizes that transportation infrastructure must also be upgraded, noting that 83% of petroleum products in Africa are currently transported by trucks, leading to inefficiencies and higher costs.
Source: Punch Nigeria