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A planned 2,000 kilometre fuel pipeline originating in Walvis Bay could transform Namibia into a regional fuel distribution hub for southern Africa, supplying Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia at more competitive rates than currently available through existing supply chains.
The project was updated by a senior executive of the African Export and Import Bank during a virtual press conference on the bank’s initiatives to strengthen fuel distribution across the continent. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote first announced the pipeline plans in November 2025, following earlier announcements of plans to build fuel storage tanks in Namibia capable of holding at least 1.6 million barrels of petrol and diesel for southern African distribution. The total investment is estimated at approximately $3 billion.
Africa business specialist Rutendo Hwindingwi described the initiative as a continuation of Dangote’s pan-African vision. “It is Dangote again implementing his Pan-African vision, in this case investing in a fuel pipeline that runs from Namibia to serve southern African countries, with the idea of derisking supply to a certain extent, considering what is happening with oil from a global economic perspective. From a Pan-African perspective, it’s good to see an African company doing that,” said Hwindingwi. With Middle East supply disruptions creating acute fuel cost pressures across landlocked southern African economies, the strategic timing of a Namibia-anchored regional distribution model has rarely been more apparent.
