Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has signaled a preference for building a major oil refinery in Mombasa, Kenya, instead of the previously proposed Tanga site in Tanzania. Dangote made the remarks in a Financial Times interview published Sunday.
Dangote said Mombasa offers a larger and deeper port than Tanga. He noted that Kenyans consume more fuel and that Kenya has the larger economy.
The project is estimated to cost between 15 and 17 billion US dollars, or roughly 1.9 to 2.2 trillion Kenyan shillings. Dangote said the final decision rests with President William Ruto.
The Tanga proposal was announced last month by President Ruto at the Africa We Build Summit. Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan said she had not been consulted on the plan.
