Africa’s drive toward industrial self-sufficiency received a major boost after Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji announced his willingness to invest $100 million in Aliko Dangote’s proposed oil refinery in Kenya. The investment offer highlights growing confidence in Dangote’s refining ambitions and signals increasing support for large-scale projects aimed at transforming Africa’s energy landscape.
According to reports, Dewji, who serves as the president of MeTL Group, revealed that he has already held discussions with Dangote regarding the planned refinery. While he admitted that he would have preferred the facility to be located in Tanzania, he expressed his readiness to back the project if Kenya remains the chosen destination. The refinery is expected to be a significant step in Dangote Group’s expansion beyond Nigeria and into the East African market.
Speaking on the importance of the project, Dewji praised Dangote’s achievements in Nigeria, describing them as remarkable. He noted that Africa must move away from its heavy dependence on imported goods and focus on refining, manufacturing, and adding value to its own natural resources. According to him, projects like the proposed refinery represent practical solutions to the continent’s long-standing industrialisation challenges and could strengthen economic sovereignty across Africa.
The planned refinery, reportedly valued at about $17 billion, is expected to be built along Kenya’s coastline and could take up to five years to complete. If realised, it would become Dangote Group’s first major refining investment outside Nigeria. The move follows the success of the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, which began commercial operations in 2024 and remains the largest single-train refinery in Africa.
Industry analysts believe the Kenyan refinery could reshape East Africa’s fuel market by improving local fuel supply, reducing reliance on imported refined petroleum products, and enhancing regional energy integration. The project also aligns with Aliko Dangote’s broader vision of replicating the refinery model that transformed Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, creating jobs, attracting investment, and strengthening Africa’s position in the global energy value chain.
Source: The cable