Nigeria’s billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has indicated that Kenya is now emerging as the preferred destination for a massive East African oil refinery project that was previously associated with Tanzania.
Speaking in an interview with the Financial Times, Dangote revealed that he is leaning toward establishing the refinery in Mombasa rather than Tanzania’s Tanga region, in what could become one of the largest industrial investments in East Africa’s history.
The proposed refinery is expected to process up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day and could cost between $15 billion and $17 billion, placing it on a scale similar to the Lagos-based Dangote Refinery, currently Africa’s largest single-train refinery.
Why Dangote Is Choosing Kenya
Dangote cited Kenya’s port infrastructure as a key reason behind the possible shift.
“I’m leaning more towards Mombasa because Mombasa has a much larger, deeper port,” Dangote said during the interview.
According to the billionaire investor, Mombasa offers stronger logistical advantages compared to Tanzania’s proposed Tanga site, especially for handling large crude shipments and refined petroleum exports.
Dangote also highlighted Kenya’s stronger consumer market while comparing the two East African nations.
“Kenyans consume more. It’s a bigger economy,” he stated.
Kenya remains one of East Africa’s largest fuel consumers and serves as a regional logistics and trade hub through the Port of Mombasa, which connects several landlocked countries including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Shift From Earlier Tanzania Talks
The latest comments mark a significant shift from earlier regional discussions that had centered around Tanzania’s Tanga port as the likely host of the refinery.
Kenyan President William Ruto had previously referenced talks among East African leaders regarding a regional refinery initiative linked to Tanzania.
However, Dangote’s latest remarks suggest Kenya has now gained momentum in the competition due to infrastructure readiness and market demand.
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