Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, on Saturday, May 16, held high-level talks with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote weeks after reports emerged that he preferred an oil refinery in Kenya over Tanzania.
During the meeting held in Dar es Salaam, Suluhu said Dangote remains one of Tanzania’s key investors through his cement business in Mtwara, which she said has contributed to employment creation.
“I have met and held discussions with the Founder and Owner of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, together with his delegation,” said Suluhu in a statement.
“Dangote is one of the major investors in Tanzania, where his cement factory in the Mtwara region is boosting our economy through the cement trade and employment for Tanzanians,” he added.
Billionaire Aliko Dangote (left) poses for a photo with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu.
Photo
Samia Suluhu
The meeting comes amid growing regional competition to host what could become East Africa’s largest oil refinery project.
Dangote is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a large-scale refinery in Kenya, similar to his other 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Nigeria, which is currently the largest single-train refinery in the world.
The proposed East African refinery project is estimated to cost between Ksh1.95 trillion and Ksh2.21 trillion, with Dangote expected to fund a majority of the project.
The planned facility is reportedly being considered for Mombasa, with Dangote said to favour its establishment in Kenya due to its larger and deeper port infrastructure, as well as Kenya’s higher fuel consumption.
Dangote had initially hinted at establishing the oil refinery in Tanga, Tanzania, but later changed his preference to Kenya.
“I’m leaning more towards Mombasa because Mombasa has a much larger, deeper port,” stated Dangote during an interview with the Financial Times on May 10, 2026.
The Tanga proposal only became public last month after President William Ruto announced plans for the joint regional refinery at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi.
The Nigerian billionaire has repeatedly warned that Africa risks becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for imported refined petroleum products if governments fail to support local refining and industrial investments.
If established, the refinery would significantly boost Kenya’s role as a regional petroleum hub and potentially reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined fuel products.
A photo impression of an oil refinery.
Photo
Chandra Asri
