NAIROBI, April 23 – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are in discussions to develop a joint oil refinery at the port city of Tanga, as the region seeks to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
President William Ruto said the proposed refinery would serve multiple East African countries, positioning it as a shared strategic asset to strengthen regional energy security.
The plan also includes a pipeline linking Mombasa to Tanga, enabling the transportation of crude oil for processing. Feedstock is expected to come from resource-rich countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
The initiative has drawn interest from Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who indicated willingness to replicate the model of his 650,000 bpd large-scale refinery in Nigeria for the project, provided there is sufficient political backing from participating countries.
The discussions come as global supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict highlight Africa’s vulnerability to fuel imports, particularly from the Middle East. Rising demand for refined products across the continent has further intensified the need for local processing capacity.
A regional refinery in Tanga could significantly improve supply stability, lower import costs and support industrial growth across East Africa, while strengthening intra-African energy trade.
