TANGA — Nigerian billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has announced plans to establish a massive oil refinery in Tanzania, a project he says will mirror the scale of his flagship facility in Nigeria and strengthen East Africa’s energy independence.
Speaking at the Africa We Build Summit alongside Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni, Dangote pledged to construct a 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Tanga, supported by a regional pipeline network intended to transport crude oil from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan.
“I applaud President Museveni for his bold decision to ban the export of unprocessed minerals,” Dangote said. “I also want to commit to the two presidents here that, with their support for the refinery, we will build a similar one in East Africa like the one we have in Nigeria.”
The proposed project is expected to be linked to a pipeline running from Mombasa in Kenya to the refinery site in Tanzania, forming part of a broader regional energy infrastructure plan.
Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to transform the region’s industrial landscape and energy security. He also referenced ongoing discussions on regional cooperation in oil infrastructure, including Uganda’s pipeline ambitions.
According to leaders at the summit, the project is designed to reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported fuel, stabilize domestic fuel prices, and generate thousands of jobs across the value chain over the next four to five years.
Museveni, who has in recent months pushed for greater value addition in Africa’s natural resources, has previously argued that the region must focus on industrialization rather than exporting raw materials.
While the announcement has been widely praised by supporters of regional integration and industrial growth, some of the leaders’ remarks circulating online also sparked mixed reactions on social media, with parts of Museveni’s informal comments drawing public debate.
Despite this, officials emphasized that the focus remains on accelerating infrastructure development and strengthening East Africa’s position in global energy markets through joint investment and cooperation.
