EAST AFRICA — Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote announced plans for a 2.1 million barrels-per-day mega-refinery in East Africa by 2030, triggering a competition between Kenya and Tanzania to host the facility. The project, if realized, aims to reshape regional fuel supply chains and reduce dependence on imported refined products.
East Africa currently relies heavily on imported refined fuel despite holding crude oil reserves. Dangote said the proposed refinery would address this imbalance and strengthen industrial capacity across the region. “From East Africa, we will be able to serve the region. This refinery is more justified when you look at the volumes,” he said.
He added that the facility’s refining capacity could reach 2.1 million barrels per day by 2030. Both Kenya and Tanzania are actively positioning themselves as the preferred location for the investment. Rising fuel prices across several African countries have been exacerbated by escalating global tensions linked to the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran, adding urgency to regional efforts to secure stable fuel supplies.
No independent assessment was available for this report.