Africa plays a significant role in the global oil industry, and its refining capacity has been growing steadily over the years. Oil refineries are crucial for the processing and conversion of crude oil into various petroleum products. In this article, we will explore the top 10 largest oil refineries in Africa, which contribute significantly to the continent’s energy production and economic development.
- Dangote Oil Refinery – Nigeria: Located in Lagos, Nigeria, the Dangote Oil Refinery is set to become Africa’s largest refinery upon completion. With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), it aims to satisfy Nigeria’s domestic demand while exporting refined products to international markets.
- Jamnagar Refinery – Egypt: Situated in Alexandria, Egypt, the Jamnagar Refinery has a capacity of 650,000 bpd. It is a joint venture between Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company (SUMED).
- Cairo Oil Refinery – Egypt: The Cairo Oil Refinery, located in Cairo, Egypt, has a capacity of 460,000 bpd. It is one of the largest refineries in Africa and plays a crucial role in meeting Egypt’s domestic demand for petroleum products.
- Cape Town Refinery – South Africa: With a capacity of 180,000 bpd, the Cape Town Refinery is South Africa’s largest and is located in Milnerton, Cape Town. It is operated by the South African Petroleum Refineries (SAPREF), a joint venture between Shell and BP.
- Port Harcourt Refinery – Nigeria: Situated in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the Port Harcourt Refinery has a combined capacity of 210,000 bpd. It consists of two refineries, namely the old refinery (60,000 bpd) and the new refinery (150,000 bpd).
- Algiers Refinery – Algeria: The Algiers Refinery, located in Algiers, Algeria, has a capacity of 180,000 bpd. It is operated by Sonatrach, Algeria’s state-owned oil and gas company, and plays a vital role in meeting the country’s domestic demand.
- Durban Refinery – South Africa: The Durban Refinery, situated in Durban, South Africa, has a capacity of 125,000 bpd. It is operated by Engen Petroleum, a subsidiary of Malaysia’s Petronas, and contributes significantly to South Africa’s petroleum product supply.
- Mombasa Refinery – Kenya: Located in Mombasa, Kenya, the Mombasa Refinery has a capacity of 80,000 bpd. It is operated by the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited (KPRL) and plays a vital role in meeting Kenya’s petroleum product requirements.
- Sidi Kerir Refinery – Egypt: Situated in Alexandria, Egypt, the Sidi Kerir Refinery has a capacity of 80,000 bpd. It is operated by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and contributes to Egypt’s petroleum product supply.
- Warri Refinery – Nigeria: The Warri Refinery, located in Warri, Nigeria, has a capacity of 125,000 bpd. It is operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and helps meet Nigeria’s domestic demand for refined petroleum products.
Africa’s oil refining capacity continues to grow, and the top 10 largest oil refineries in the continent play a vital role in meeting domestic demand and contributing to the economic development of their respective countries. As the continent seeks to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on imported refined products, these refineries will play an even more significant role in the future.