Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), has been reappointed for a third term, extending his leadership at a pivotal moment for Africa’s downstream sector. The decision comes as ARDA marks 20 years since its establishment as a central platform for refining, distribution and policy coordination across the continent. Kragha’s re-election signals both confidence in his leadership and a recognition of the need for continuity as Africa strives for energy sovereignty at a time of global supply shocks.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has welcomed the reappointment, underscoring Kragha’s long-standing advocacy for energy security, regional integration and African-led innovation. Under his tenure, ARDA has consistently called for stronger intra-African trade in petroleum products, reduced reliance on imports and the development of localized refining ecosystems. The Chamber believes that his leadership comes at a critical inflection point, where policy alignment, infrastructure investment and institutional coordination are increasingly urgent.
“Anibor Kragha’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Africa’s downstream agenda at a time when the continent must take control of its energy future. Kragha has not only defended the role of oil and gas in Africa’s development but has also pushed for pragmatic, market-driven solutions to unlock downstream value. His reappointment reflects a clear mandate to move from ambition to action – to build the refineries, infrastructure and markets that will secure Africa’s energy independence and drive long-term industrial growth,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
The timing of Kragha’s reappointment is strategically significant. While ARDA has consistently called for the need to restructure Africa’s downstream sector to attract capital and ensure security of supply, recent geopolitical events have further exposed the continent’s vulnerability to global market dynamics. Threatened supply from the Strait of Hormuz has left many import-reliant nations in Africa scrambling for products, further compounding an already-constrained downstream market. This comes as oil demand is projected to continue growing to 2050 and beyond.
Refined product demand is expected to rise from 4 million barrels per day (bpd) to 6 million bpd by 2050, while gasoline consumption will reach 2.2 million bpd, diesel consumption will rise 50% and kerosene will expand 65% to reach 465,000 bpd. To meet its mid-decade objectives, Africa requires over $40 billion in refining investments by 2030 and an additional $60 billion into the following decade, primarily for refinery construction, modernization and secondary processing capacity upgrades. This highlights a $100 billion investment gap – and window – for project developers.
Recent developments signal a shift in the right direction. By 2030, Africa is expected to add 1.2 million bpd of new refining capacity, marking one of the fastest downstream expansions globally. At the forefront is Nigeria’s 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery – now operating at full capacity and looking at expanding to 1.2 million bpd – as well as new developments such as the 200,000 bpd Lobito Refinery (Angola), 100,000 bpd Soyo facility (Angola) and 60,000 bpd Hoima Refinery (Uganda). These projects reflect a shift toward integrated value chains, linking upstream production to domestic refining.
Beyond refining, ARDA has consistently advocated for strengthened pipeline and storage capacity, highlighting the significance of intra-African trade and distribution. Bottlenecks remain in these areas, but infrastructure is being expanded to address them. The 1,443-km East African Crude Oil Pipeline is expected to begin operations this year, while the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline – traversing 13 West African states – is set to advance with the signing of the intergovernmental deal in 2026. These projects coincide with investments in logistics and storage infrastructure, including South Africa’s Durban Port, new LPG terminals in Tanzania and modernized supply bases in Namibia and Uganda.
These developments align with broader continental frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to facilitate the movement of goods and services across borders. As Africa navigates an increasingly complex global energy landscape, the continuity provided by Kragha’s leadership offers a measure of stability. The challenge now is execution at scale – translating vision into infrastructure, and policy into capacity – to ensure the continent captures the full value of its resources.
