Aliko Dangote’s commitment to build a major oil refinery in East Africa aims to transform the region’s fuel supply and reduce reliance on imports. The proposed facility will have a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and will be located in Tanga, Tanzania. It is designed to process crude oil from several neighboring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda.
This announcement builds on the scale of the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria, which has begun reshaping regional fuel markets. Dangote aims to replicate his $20 billion Nigerian project in East Africa. He plans to invest up to $40 billion across refining, petrochemicals, fertiliser blending plants, and manufacturing by 2030.
Yet, the project hinges on support from regional governments, particularly Kenya and Uganda. “I can give commitment… if they will support the refinery, we’ll build the identical one that we have in Nigeria,” Dangote stated. His Nigerian refinery currently exports around 1.1 billion litres of aviation fuel to Europe.
William Ruto, President of Kenya, emphasized the collaborative nature of the project. “We’re going to have a joint refinery in Tanga to benefit all of us because that refinery is going to take on board the oil from DRC, the oil from Kenya, the oil from South Sudan, and the oil from Uganda,” he said.
Officials believe this initiative could significantly enhance local fuel supply chains and contribute to industrialisation efforts across East Africa. However, observers note that ambitions may remain unrealized if dependence on external capital continues. Ruto expressed concern about this issue: “Our ambitions will remain unrealized if we continue to depend on external capital whose primary interest is securing raw materials for their own industries.”
By exporting raw materials and importing finished products, Dangote warned that countries are impoverishing their populations. The new refinery represents a potential shift towards greater self-sufficiency for East African nations.
If supported by regional governments, the refinery could be operational within four to five years. This timeline remains tentative as no formal agreements have been finalized yet.
