Africa’s oil refinery industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, particularly in the downstream sector. Africa is projected to add approximately 1.2 million barrels per day of refining capacity by 2030, signaling a significant shift in the continent’s energy landscape. Lets take a look at the projects that are under construction and under planning currently.

Source: Robert Barnes Jan 19, 2026

The agreement, between the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), and UAE-based Alpha MBM, to be built in Kabaale, Hoima District, will have a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, developed in two phases, and is expected to be operational within three years. The project, estimated at $4 billion and fully equity-financed, positions Uganda as a regional hub for petroleum refining and distribution, with first commercial output anticipated around 2028.

The Cabinda refinery is a public-private partnership between UK-based Gemcorp, holding a 90% stake, and state-owned Sonangol with 10%. Phase one of the project, costing over $500 million, has a processing capacity of 30,000 barrels per day, producing diesel, jet fuel, naphtha, and heavy fuel oil for both domestic use and export.

The Lobito refinery will have a processing capacity of 200,000 barrels per day and is being developed under the project management of US-based engineering firm KBR. The contract, issued by Angola’s state-owned oil company Sonangol, covers engineering, procurement, and construction services, building on KBR’s two-decade-long partnership with Angola. KBR’s Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase has been completed, delivering a cost-competitive, environmentally conscious plan meets both African and European product standards.

The Soyo refinery is part of Angola’s broader strategy to enhance refining capacity alongside the 200,000 bpd Lobito facility, the 60,000 bpd Cabinda refinery is development is led by Quanten Consortium has a planned capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. Construction is scheduled to start once the site is fully demined, with associated infrastructure including roads, a 60–100 MW power plant, and a maritime terminal.

The Senegal Second Oil Refinery Project will complement the existing 30,000-barrel-per-day Dakar facility, which no longer meets national fuel demand. Estimated to cost between $2–$5 billion, the project is in early planning, with construction expected around 2026 and operations by 2029. With a capacity of 4 million tonnes per year, it will boost SAR’s total output to 5.5 million tonnes.

The Gode Oil Refinery Project is a $2.5 billion development in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State. Led by China’s GCL in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the refinery will produce 3.5 million tonnes of fuel annually using crude and condensate from the Hilala oil field. The refinery forms part of Ethiopia’s 10-year development plan and is expected to supply both domestic and regional markets.

The Ogun State Refinery is developed by Gasoline Associates International Limited (GAIL), the facility will begin with a refining capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, with plans to expand to 450,000 bpd. The refinery aims to boost domestic production of PMS, AGO, LPG, and jet fuel.

The Ndola Oil Refinery is a $1.1 billion Crude Oil Refinery and Energy Complex in Ndola, located in the heart of the Copperbelt region. The project will feature a facility capable of processing 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, enough to meet the country’s entire fuel demand.

South Sudan plans to build a new US$3 billion oil refinery at the Tharjiath field in Unity State to boost domestic fuel supply and reduce dependence on Sudan’s export infrastructure. The project, developed through a public-private partnership, will give Nilepet a 30% stake while Quad Layer Holdings takes 70% and builds key road links. Feasibility studies will determine final capacity before contracts are signed.

Ghana has launched construction of its US$12 billion oil refinery in Jomoro, the first phase of a planned US$60 billion Petroleum Hub. The project includes a 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery, a petrochemical plant, and major storage and port facilities, positioning Ghana—alongside Senegal—as a rising petroleum hub in West Africa. Developed with the TCP-UIC Consortium, the hub aims to meet regional fuel demand by 2036.

The Ondo oil refinery has secured US $50 billion to facilitate its implementation. TThe refinery’s scale of implementation places it among Africa’s largest private-sector industrial ventures. Once operational, it would be second only to the $20 billion Dangote Refinery in Lagos, which began phased operations in 2023.

The planned 500,000-barrel processing capacity rivals national output levels seen in major African economies.

Dangote Group has signed a $350 million agreement with India’s state-owned Engineers India Ltd (EIL) to oversee a major expansion of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos. The project will add a second processing unit, lifting capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to about 1.4 million barrels per day, with production centred on Euro VI-standard fuels. EIL will act as Project Management Consultant and provide EPCM services, repeating its role from the refinery’s original development commissioned in 2024. The Lekki Free Zone complex, valued at roughly $19 billion, will rank among the world’s largest single-site refineries once expanded.