According to the recently published 2025 OPEC World Oil Outlook, Africa is expected to add 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of new refining capacity by 2030, making it one of the quickest downstream expansions in the world.
This medium-term expansion, which is driven by historic projects in Nigeria, Angola, and Uganda, marks a sea change in the continent’s energy sovereignty and appeal to investors.
Nigeria’s 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery, which started operations in 2024 and is already changing the dynamics of regional gasoline trade, is at the vanguard of Africa’s refining boom.Additional developments include the state-driven drive in Angola to bring the 100,000-bpd Soyo Refinery and the 200,000-bpd Lobito Refinery online by 2030, as well as the 200,000-bpd Akwa Ibom Refinery in Nigeria.
As part of the nation’s larger Lake Albert basin development strategy, the report stated that Uganda’s refining aspirations are beginning to take shape with a 60,000-bpd facility in Hoima.
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