Dangote Backs African-Led Infrastructure

Addis Ababa, September 24, 2026 (ENA) —Dangote Group President and Chief Executive Aliko Dangote has outlined the company’s role in developing Africa's energy self-reliance, including the Ethiopia-Djibouti strategic infrastructure project announced today.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the strategic project, Dangote said the project is intended to move petroleum products more efficiently while reducing reliance on long-distance road haulage.

The project, which connects coastal storage at Damerjog in Djibouti with inland storage and distribution facilities at Dewele in Ethiopia, will combine a 120-kilometre multi-product pipeline with 400 million litres of storage capacity.

“It will connect the marine and coastal storage facilities at Damerjog to the inland storage and distribution facilities at Dewele. A modern multi-product pipeline will receive, store, transport and distribute refined petroleum products. It will do so in a very safe, efficient and reliable manner, ” the CEO said.

“In the first phase, the project will support the movement of key petroleum products. This includes jet fuel, automobile gas, and premium motor spirit, which will further strengthen supply and improve inventory management and strategic reserve stock. It will also reduce pressure on existing transport system.”

Dangote stated that the project is intended to move petroleum products more efficiently while reducing reliance on long-distance road haulage.

He said it would also create opportunities for local businesses and workers, from construction and supply services to permanent technical and administrative positions.

The project will create jobs during the construction. It will also transfer skills to local people. It will also support permanent technical and administrative jobs when operations begin. Contractors, service providers, transport operators, suppliers and host community will benefit,  the CEO elaborated.

“This is Africa building the infrastructure it needs. It will help African economies trade more with one another. It will also allow us to process more what we produce while creating and retaining more value within the continent. It will also complement road haulage and drive improvements in safety and environmental management.”

Dangote also used the occasion to outline his broader vision for African industrial development, saying the continent should rely more on its own investment, infrastructure and financial institutions.

The Group’s investments across Africa are aimed at reducing dependence on imports and expanding local production, he said.

As Africa’s leading industrial conglomerate, our investments across the continent are driven by a firm belief that Africans must take the lead in developing Africa.

“We must understand the terrain, the challenges, the culture and the opportunities. We are committed to reducing Africa’s dependence on imports. We want our content to become more self-sufficient in finished goods. Manufacturing and infrastructure must remain the central of this transformation.”

Dangote Group plans to continue investing in African industrialization under its Vision 2030 program, which, the CEO said is backed by 50 billion USD in planned investment across the continent.

The Ethiopia-Djibouti project adds to Dangote Group’s growing industrial footprint in Ethiopia and its wider push to develop infrastructure and production capacity across Africa.