East Africa Eyes Joint Oil Refinery Inspired by Nigeria’s Dangote Model

East African nations are advancing plans for a collaborative oil refinery project at Tanzania’s port of Tanga, drawing direct inspiration from Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery. The initiative, discussed by leaders including Kenyan President William Ruto and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, aims to reduce the region’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products by processing crude oil from regional producers such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda.

The proposed facility would mirror the scale and success of the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Nigeria, which began operations in January 2024 and reached full refining capacity by February 2026. Dangote has pledged to lead the project, committing to deliver the refinery within four to five years pending governmental agreements across the participating nations. The refinery would be connected by pipeline to Mombasa, enhancing regional energy infrastructure and trade.

Currently, East Africa imports all of its refined petroleum products, primarily from the Middle East, leaving it vulnerable to global supply disruptions and price volatility. The joint refinery seeks to establish regional energy security although creating a shared asset that leverages domestic hydrocarbon resources. Uganda, which anticipates commencing commercial crude oil production in 2026, has separately announced plans for a 60,000-barrel-per-day refinery backed by United Arab Emirates-based investors.

Discussions gained prominence during the April 2026 infrastructure financing conference in Nairobi, where Dangote emphasized that regional government support is essential to move forward. The project aligns with broader African efforts to increase local value addition in the energy sector and reduce reliance on external fuel sources amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting global markets.