Nigeria's billionaire Aliko Dangote pledged to Presidents William Ruto of Kenya and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda to build a refinery identical to his Lagos plant if they provide support. The facility would be in Tanzania's Tanga area, linked by pipeline to Mombasa. The commitment came at the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi on April 23.
Aliko Dangote made the pledge at the Africa We Build Summit 2026 in Nairobi on April 23, attended by industry leaders from Africa and beyond. "Even now, I can give commitment to the two presidents who were here. If they will support the refinery, we'll build an identical one to the one we have in Nigeria," Dangote stated.
The Tanga refinery would produce diesel, petrol, and jet fuel locally, ending the region's reliance on costly imports that burden households and businesses. It would mirror the Lagos facility, a $20 billion plant in the Ibeju-Lekki Free Zone commissioned in May 2023 and fully operational since February 2026, processing 650,000 barrels per day.
The Dangote Group has a $40 billion investment plan through 2030 in petrochemicals, fertilizers, and more. Dangote is expanding the Nigerian refinery to 1.4 million barrels per day, aiming to make it the world's largest. President Ruto announced Kenya's investment in Uganda's $4 billion Hoima refinery project.
Dangote criticized Africa's economic model of exporting raw materials while importing finished goods.
