Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote said most African countries could become largely self-sufficient in refined fuels by 2030 as the continent expands its refining capacity.

“Most African countries will be self-sufficient in fuel by 2030,” Dangote said in Nairobi on Sept. 29, a day before the planned launch of construction of a new refinery in Kenya.

Dangote said Africa would not need a refinery in every country to achieve that goal. Instead, he argued that large-scale refineries could supply several regional markets and reduce the continent’s reliance on imports of refined petroleum products.

His comments came as Dangote Group prepared to begin construction of a 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya. The project is valued at about $16 billion and is expected to be completed around 2030.

The refinery is expected to serve markets across East Africa, where annual demand for petroleum products is estimated at between 20 million and 30 million metric tons. Dangote has also offered governments in the region a combined 30% stake in the project.

The Kenyan project is part of Dangote’s broader strategy to expand Africa’s capacity to process its own crude oil. His refinery in Lagos, Nigeria, already has a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.

Dangote’s 2030 projection will depend on the expansion of refining capacity, access to crude supplies and the development of energy and transport infrastructure across the continent.