Aliko Dangote is shifting his focus to Kenya for a $15–17 billion oil refinery project that could transform East Africa’s energy landscape and reduce heavy reliance on imported petroleum.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Dangote preferred Mombasa over Tanzania’s Tanga for the new 650,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) refinery, citing Mombasa’s deeper, larger port, Kenya’s bigger economy, and higher local fuel consumption demand as key reasons.
“I’m leaning more towards Mombasa because Mombasa has a much larger, deeper port,” Dangote told the FT.
Previously, during the April 2026 Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto discussed a joint regional refinery in Tanga, Tanzania, to process crude from multiple countries, supported by a pipeline from Mombasa.
Dangote had planned to lead and complete this project in four to five years with government support.
However, recent reports suggest a shift toward locating the full-scale refinery in Kenya.
East Africa currently imports almost all its refined petroleum, so a local mega-refinery could lower fuel costs, create jobs, boost energy security, and stimulate downstream industries.
This project is part of Dangote Group’s broader expansion across Africa, including investments in fertilizers, petrochemicals, manufacturing, and a planned 20,000 MW power project.
Dangote also aims to establish up to 20 fertilizer plants by 2028 and invest up to $40 billion in related sectors by 2030.
Additionally, reports indicate plans to develop a Kenya-based investment vehicle to raise capital from African investors, potentially leading to a pan-African IPO linked to his Nigerian refinery and other assets.
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