PRESS RELEASE: ARDA to Bring Africa’s Downstream Energy Leaders Together in Nairobi as East Africa Enters a New Phase of Energy Infrastructure Development

The African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) will unite senior industry leaders, decision-makers and experts from across Africa for its annual Storage, Distribution & Jet Fuel Forum, taking place in Nairobi from 20–22 October 2026.

Held under the theme “Building Resilient African Energy Supply Chains: Driving Industrialisation, Energy Security and Aviation Growth,” the forum will examine the infrastructure, investment and market developments shaping Africa’s downstream energy sector, with a particular focus on refining, storage, distribution and jet fuel.

East Africa at the centre of a changing energy landscape

The forum comes at a significant moment for East Africa, with major investments underway or being developed across refining, pipelines, storage, terminals and wider energy infrastructure.
Uganda’s 60,000-barrel-per-day Hoima refinery, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the proposed Tanga Regional Energy Hub are among developments reshaping regional energy supply networks.

The forum’s relevance has been further underlined by the groundbreaking of the proposed Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu on 30 September, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s refining ambitions.

The proposed facility, backed by Dangote Industries, is planned to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, potentially making it the largest refinery in East Africa. The project is intended to serve Kenya and wider regional markets, bringing into focus the infrastructure required not only to refine crude, but also to store, transport and distribute petroleum products efficiently across the region.

Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of ARDA, said: “East Africa is at an important stage in the development of its downstream energy infrastructure. The groundbreaking of the Dangote East Africa Refinery in Lamu is another important milestone and highlights the scale of investment and ambition now being seen across the region.

“But new refining capacity is only one part of the equation. We also need the storage, terminals, pipelines, distribution networks and regional connections required to move these products efficiently to consumers and markets. The Dangote Group’s partnership with Ethiopia and Djibouti to build a120 km pipeline along with a combine 1.1 million cubic metres of storage is a clear example of enhancing cross-border storage and distribution networks to not only lower logistics costs, but also enhance regional energy security.

“This is why we are bringing the ARDA Storage, Distribution & Jet Fuel Forum 2026 to Nairobi. Kenya’s position as a regional petroleum and aviation hub makes it an ideal location to bring together the companies, investors, policymakers and industry leaders shaping Africa’s next generation of energy infrastructure.”

Aviation and the growing importance of jet fuel

Aviation will be another central theme of the forum, reflecting the critical role that reliable jet-fuel supply chains play in supporting Africa’s connectivity and economic growth.

Kenya is an important aviation hub for East Africa, with Jomo Kenyatta International Airport handling approximately 8.93 million passengers in 2025, above its designed capacity of around 7.5 million. Kenya’s jet-fuel demand is projected to rise from approximately 972 million litres in 2024 to 1.067 billion litres in 2029.

As air transport expands across Africa, reliable access to jet fuel, supported by adequate import infrastructure, storage capacity, quality assurance and efficient distribution networks, will become increasingly important.

Senior industry leaders confirmed

The forum will feature leading voices from across Africa’s downstream, energy and aviation sectors.

• Solomon Osundwa, Chairman of the Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) and Regional Managing Director of Hass Petroleum, brings extensive experience across the energy, FMCG and automotive sectors, including senior roles with Unilever, VTTI Kenya, KenolKobil, Caltex Oil, Nissan Kenya and Hashi Energy.
• Abderahmane Berthé, Secretary General of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), brings 37 years of aviation experience, including 16 years as CEO of Air Mali and Air Burkina. He will provide an important aviation perspective on the development of reliable jet-fuel supply chains and the growth of African air transport.

A programme focused on Africa’s evolving energy supply chains

The agenda for the ARDA Storage, Distribution & Jet Fuel Forum 2026 will examine the infrastructure, investment and supply-chain challenges shaping Africa’s downstream energy sector, with confirmed sessions including:

•  The Strategic Role of Energy Supply Chains in African Industrialisation
• Developing Integrated Energy Infrastructure: Storage, Terminals and Regional Corridors
• Optimising the Supply Chain of Petroleum Products: From Refining to the End Consumer
• Financing Africa’s Energy Infrastructure: Challenges, Opportunities and New Investment Models
• The African Jet Fuel Market: Responding to the Growth of Air Transport
• Building a Reliable Jet Fuel Supply Chain: Storage, Quality and Distribution
• Sustainable Aviation in Africa: Preparing for the Transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF)
• Lubricants in Africa: A Strategic Lever for Industrial Performance, Equipment Quality and Economic Competitiveness
• Bitumen in Africa: Securing Road Infrastructure to Accelerate African Economic Integration

Together, these sessions will explore how investment, infrastructure and regional cooperation can strengthen Africa’s energy security, support industrialisation and enable the continued growth of aviation and wider economic activity.

Join ARDA in Nairobi

The ARDA Storage, Distribution & Jet Fuel Forum 2026 takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 20–22 October 2026.

The event is open to senior representatives from across the energy and aviation value chains, including refiners, oil marketers, storage operators, traders, airlines, airports, infrastructure developers, investors, financial institutions, governments, regulators and service providers.

For further information, programme details and registration, visit the ARDA website.

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About ARDA

The African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing the sustainable development of Africa’s energy sector. The mission of our community is to promote collaboration among industry stakeholders, foster innovation, and drive investment to address Africa’s energy challenges. Through its work, ARDA aims to help unlock the continent’s energy potential, reduce energy poverty, and support Africa’s economic growth.

For all press enquiries, please contact: media@afrra.org

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