Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, is planning a fresh round of major investments in Tanzania following talks with President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam.
The meeting, held on June 29, focused on expanding Dangote Industries’ presence in the East African country through projects in power generation, fertiliser production, transport infrastructure and port development.
Among the proposals under consideration are a 2,000-megawatt coal-fired power plant, a urea fertiliser factory and new port facilities aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s industrial and logistics capacity. The company is also proposing the construction of a 40-kilometre concrete access road to ease traffic around key ports.
Other plans include the creation of a special economic zone and the development of an 812-kilometre transport corridor linking Mtwara and Mbamba Bay to improve the movement of raw materials and finished products.
Following the discussions, President Suluhu directed Tanzania’s Minister of Planning and Investment, Kitila Mkumbo, to lead negotiations with Dangote Industries. A Tanzanian delegation is also expected to visit Nigeria to continue discussions and finalise implementation plans.
Dangote already has a significant presence in Tanzania through a $500 million cement plant in Mtwara, which has an annual production capacity of three million tonnes and supplies both the local market and neighbouring countries.
The Nigerian billionaire also addressed the proposed East African oil refinery, explaining that commercial and technical considerations influenced the decision to pursue the project in Kenya rather than Tanzania. He nevertheless encouraged the Tanzanian government to participate in the refinery venture.
The refinery proposal previously sparked debate after conflicting statements emerged over its intended location. While Tanzania had earlier been mentioned as a possible host, Dangote later shifted focus to Kenya, citing infrastructure advantages and stronger fuel demand, with the final location yet to be confirmed.
