Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has held investment talks with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote in Dar es Salaam, as competition intensifies over the location of a proposed multibillion-dollar oil refinery in East Africa.
The meeting at Tanzania’s State House comes amid growing regional debate over whether the refinery will be built in Tanga, Tanzania, or Mombasa, Kenya. The project is expected to attract billions of dollars in private investment, although no official figure has yet been disclosed.
Earlier this month, William Ruto told Tanzania’s Parliament in Dodoma that the Port of Tanga was a strong contender for the refinery because of its strategic position and regional trade links. However, he noted that the final decision would rest with investors led by Dangote.
In comments published by the Financial Times on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Dangote reportedly said he was leaning towards Mombasa, citing the Kenyan city’s deep-water port, stronger logistics network and rising regional fuel demand.
The proposed refinery is expected to process crude oil from producers in Uganda and Kenya, as well as imported crude, for distribution across East Africa.
