President William Ruto has endorsed Nigerian tycoon Aliko Dangote’s initiative to partner with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania for the construction of an oil refinery in Tanga, Tanzania.
During a sideline meeting with Dangote at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Ruto emphasized that this collaboration represents a significant regional project aimed at fostering investment and job creation.
He commended Dangote for his substantial contributions to the manufacturing, cement, sugar, and oil refining sectors. “African industrialists and entrepreneurs play a vital role in driving economic growth and innovation across various fields, including manufacturing, industrialization, banking, and technology. Their partnership with governments is essential for transforming our nations, particularly in terms of investment and employment opportunities,” Ruto remarked.
In his statement, Ruto noted his meeting with Dangote, the founder of the Dangote Group and a leading industrialist in Africa, highlighting Dangote’s interests in cement and sugar manufacturing as well as oil refining.
While supporting Dangote’s proposal, Ruto expressed admiration for the businessman’s faith in Africa, reiterating his dedication to collaborating with him to bring this regional project to fruition. “We welcome his announcement at the summit regarding his readiness to partner with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in establishing an oil refinery in Tanga. We are grateful to Mr. Dangote for his belief in Africa and are committed to making this crucial regional project a reality,” Ruto added.
In his address, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, declared his intention to construct a refinery in East Africa akin to his extensive facility in Nigeria, contingent upon receiving support from Presidents Ruto and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. “I assure the two presidents present: if they back the refinery, we will build one identical to our facility in Nigeria, which processes 650,000 barrels,” Dangote stated.
According to a report from the AFC, a Pan-African organization focused on funding and developing infrastructure, Africa’s reliance on fuel imports is projected to rise from 74 million tonnes in 2023 to 86 million tonnes by 2040. This increase is equivalent to nearly three times the capacity of Dangote’s Nigerian refinery, currently the largest in Africa.
