The Democratic Republic of Congo is considering sourcing petroleum products from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery amid tensions in refined fuel markets, the Ministry of National Economy said in a statement on April 14, 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba traveled to Nigeria to secure the country’s fuel supply, the ministry said.

During the visit, Mukoko Samba met businessman Aliko Dangote to explore direct supply to the Congolese market. He also held talks with UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu and Chief Executive Oliver Alawuba on financing petroleum product imports.

The initiative aims to diversify sources of supply, reduce reliance on a single supply chain and improve the country’s ability to respond to shifts in international markets. Global oil markets have been under pressure since the outbreak of war in the Middle East in February.

Africa’s largest refinery

Located in Lekki, the Dangote refinery has an estimated capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, making it the largest refining facility in Africa. However, a significant share of output is allocated to the domestic market, limiting export volumes.

The DRC is competing with several African countries also seeking supply from the refinery. South Africa and Kenya have taken steps in that direction, according to Bloomberg. Cargoes of refined products have already been delivered to Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire, according to specialized media reports, including Ecofin Agency.

These commitments leave limited volumes available for new buyers, leaving little room for countries such as the DRC.

According to the Central Bank of Congo’s 2023 annual report, the country consumed 2,804,698 cubic meters of petroleum products that year, equivalent to 17.64 million barrels, or more than 48,000 barrels per day on average. Authorities say consumption has since increased significantly, although more recent data has not yet been published.

Timothée Manoke