Dangote refinery expansion accelerated. (Image source: Honeywell)

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE has selected Honeywell to deliver advanced technologies, services, proprietary catalysts and specialised equipment that will allow the refinery to handle a broader range of crude oils and double its output at Africa’s largest refinery in Lekki, Nigeria by 2028

Using Honeywell’s refining and petrochemical process solutions, which are designed to reduce production costs, improve efficiency and increase throughput, Dangote plans to expand its refining capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day within the next three years. This growth would position Dangote as the world’s largest petroleum refinery, strengthening Africa’s fuel production capabilities, reducing dependence on imports and improving regional energy security.

“Our continued collaboration with Honeywell marks a significant milestone not only for Dangote’s refinery, but for Nigeria’s energy sector as a whole,” said Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.

“Through the use of Honeywell’s proven, advanced technologies, we can set new production standards for the industry while contributing to Nigeria’s energy independence and economic growth.”

Honeywell has supported the Lekki refinery with process technology for almost ten years. The new expansion will enable Dangote to maximise its existing assets and infrastructure, ensuring higher returns on investment, streamlining execution and accelerating time to market.

“Honeywell is committed to delivering groundbreaking technologies that empower customers, drive operational excellence, and support regional energy security efforts,” remarked Rajesh Gattupalli, president, Honeywell UOP.

“Our work with Dangote demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can help enhance regional energy independence and support Africa’s growing energy needs.”

As part of the agreement, Dangote will also adopt Honeywell’s Oleflex technology, which converts propane into propylene through catalytic dehydrogenation, enabling production of 750,000 metric tons of propylene annually. This will increase Dangote’s overall polypropylene output, a key material for a wide range of plastic and packaging products, to 2.4 million metric tons per year.

The Lekki complex is the world’s largest single-train refinery, producing Euro-V grade gasoline, diesel and jet fuel along with polypropylene used extensively in plastics manufacturing.

Honeywell’s century-long track record in the energy sector includes its process technologies and catalysts being deployed at more than 6,000 refineries and industrial sites worldwide.

Liberia tapping into its hydropower potential. (Image source: AfDB)

A new hydropower plant in Liberia has been allocated additional funding by the African Development Bank (AfDB) following cost overruns

It marks the latest infrastructure project in Africa to be hit by escalating costs.

The African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional lending arm, approved an additional loan of US$7.41mn to complete implementation of Liberia’s Renewable Energy for Electrification project.

A major part of the project is the construction of a 9.34 MW run-of-river hydropower plant in the Gbedin Falls area of Nimba County.

The plant will be connected to an eight-kilometre 33-kilovolt evacuation line and two transformer substations, and also to a cross-border transmission line.

A 15-kilometre permanent access road and an eight-kilometre temporary road will also be built to ensure access to the power plant site.

The project also calls for installation of 50 km of 33/0.4-kilovolt distribution lines and the connection of 6,650 households to the power grid in Nimba and Bong County.

In a statement, the AfDB said the additional financing will be used “to cover a cost overrun for construction of the hydropower plant and related infrastructure, as well as project management cost overruns related to implementation delays.”

The bank recently approved an additional €217mn to complete a major roads project in Uganda after costs doubled as the scheme expanded to include new interchanges, bridges, toll plazas, and service lanes.

The Liberia Renewable Energy for Electrification project is a joint initiative of the Liberian government and the AfDB, initially approved in October 2019, with project implementation beginning in March 2021.

Upon completion, the project is expected to increase Liberia’s national energy mix by 56.5 gigawatt-hours per year, representing about 6.9 per cent of the country’s total supply’s well as expand electricity access to thousands who did not previously have connection.

Read more:

AfDB cash boost for Uganda roads project

Scatec venture signs Liberia, Sierra Leone solar deals

Liberia inaugurates Arcelormittal concentrator plant

IEA predicts stronger efficiency gains

Global momentum on energy efficiency is expected to gain pace in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest annual assessment

The update highlights renewed progress in an essential area for bolstering energy security, strengthening economic competitiveness, and reducing both energy costs and emissions.

The IEA’s yearly outlook, Energy Efficiency 2025, reports that global primary energy intensity — the main indicator for tracking efficiency improvements — is projected to rise by 1.8% this year, compared with only 1% in 2024. Early data suggests that major economies including India and China are showing signs of stronger improvement relative to their average performance since 2019.

Since 2019, global advances in energy efficiency have remained relatively muted, averaging about 1.3% annually, a notable decline from the roughly 2% yearly progress recorded between 2010 and 2019.

“The acceleration in global progress on energy efficiency that we’re seeing in 2025 is encouraging, including positive signs in some major emerging economies. But our analysis shows that governments need to work even harder to ensure efficiency’s full range of benefits are enjoyed by as many people as possible,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Energy efficiency has the power to enhance people’s lives and livelihoods through greater energy security, more affordable bills, improved economic competitiveness and lower emissions.”

Today’s improvement rate remains far below the 4% target set for 2030 at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, where nearly 200 governments committed to doubling the global average annual energy efficiency improvement rate by the end of the decade.

The new IEA study outlines areas where governments are increasing their efforts and highlights structural issues slowing progress. For instance, nearly two-thirds of the rise in global final energy demand since 2019 has come from the industrial sector, where gains in energy intensity have weakened in recent years.

Policy development is also falling behind technological advancement, resulting in missed opportunities for energy savings. Air conditioners provide a clear example: while expanding access has significantly improved living conditions globally, soaring use has also pushed cooling-related electricity demand higher. Most units sold today remain far less efficient than the top-performing models, unnecessarily raising consumers’ energy costs.

The report notes that stronger policy action is central to unlocking faster progress. Governments can move forward by increasing the ambition of existing measures — many of which have failed to keep pace with modern technologies — and by closing remaining policy gaps. About half of all countries still lack minimum energy efficiency standards for new buildings, including regions with rapidly expanding construction. Targeting these gaps, especially in areas with high energy use and strong savings potential, can help accelerate global improvement.

To improve transparency and support quicker progress, the IEA has expanded its Energy Efficiency Progress Tracker, offering the latest regional insights aligned with the findings of Energy Efficiency 2025. The Agency has also added fresh case studies to its Energy Efficiency Policy Toolkit, providing policymakers with best-practice examples from diverse sectors worldwide.

The Keben Dam Water Supply Project, situated in Nandi County, is a key community-focused initiative designed to strengthen water source security. (Image source: POWERCHINA)

POWERCHINA has formally signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract with the Kenya Lake Victoria North Water Works Development Agency for the Keben Dam Water Supply Project in Kenya on 10 November

The Keben Dam Water Supply Project, situated in Nandi County, is a key community-focused initiative designed to strengthen water source security, improve supply systems, and introduce smart management technologies.

The project’s scope covers the design and construction of a dam, reservoir, water treatment plant, storage tanks, and an extensive network of transmission and distribution pipelines. Once operational, it is expected to significantly boost water supply capacity for Nandi County and nearby regions, serving hundreds of thousands of people. It will play an essential role in supporting local livelihoods and driving regional economic growth.

This contract represents another important step forward for POWERCHINA in Kenya’s water infrastructure landscape, reinforcing the company’s strong position in water resource development and community-focused projects throughout East Africa.

POWERCHINA will make full use of its comprehensive industry chain advantages in planning, design, and construction management, organise and implement the project. This will ensure high standards and quality, contributing to practical cooperation between China and Kenya and improving people's livelihoods."