Tanzania’s Suluhu Meets Billionaire Dangote Days After Mombasa Comments
On Saturday, May 16, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu had high-level meetings with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, weeks after claims surfaced that he preferred an oil refinery in Kenya over Tanzania.
During the meeting in Dar es Salaam, Suluhu stated that Dangote remains one of Tanzania’s significant investors through his cement business in Mtwara, which she says has helped to create jobs.
“I have met and held discussions with the Founder and Owner of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, together with his delegation,” said Suluhu in a statement.
“Dangote is one of the major investors in Tanzania, where his cement factory in the Mtwara region is boosting our economy through the cement trade and employment for Tanzanians,” he added.
The conference takes place amid increasing regional competition to host what might become East Africa’s largest oil refinery project.
Ikulu, Dar es Salaam, 16 Mei, 2026.
— Samia Suluhu (@SuluhuSamia) May 16, 2026
Nimekutana na kufanya mazungumzo na Mwanzilishi na Mmiliki wa Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote pamoja na ujumbe wake.
Alhaji Dangote ni mmoja wa wawekezaji wakubwa Tanzania ambapo kiwanda chake cha saruji (Dangote Cement) mkoani Mtwara… pic.twitter.com/9MMHlu5NDb
Dangote is currently looking at the concept of building a large-scale refinery in Kenya, comparable to his existing 650,000-barrel-per-day plant in Nigeria, which is currently the world’s largest single-train refinery.
The proposed East African refinery project is estimated to cost between Ksh1.95 trillion and Ksh2.21 trillion, with Dangote expected to fund a majority of the project.
The planned facility is reportedly being considered for Mombasa, with Dangote said to favour its establishment in Kenya due to its larger and deeper port infrastructure, as well as Kenya’s higher fuel consumption.
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Dangote had initially hinted at establishing the oil refinery in Tanga, Tanzania, but later changed his preference to Kenya.
“I’m leaning more towards Mombasa because Mombasa has a much larger, deeper port,” stated Dangote during an interview with the Financial Times on May 10, 2026.
The Tanga proposal only became public last month after President William Ruto announced plans for the joint regional refinery at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi.
The Nigerian billionaire has repeatedly warned that Africa risks becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for imported refined petroleum products if governments fail to support local refining and industrial investments.
If established, the refinery would significantly boost Kenya’s role as a regional petroleum hub and potentially reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined fuel products.
Tanzania’s Suluhu Meets Billionaire Dangote Days After Mombasa Comments
