Aliko Dangote, the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries, has indicated a major shift in plans regarding his proposed multi-billion-dollar regional oil refinery project.

In a recent interview, Dangote revealed that he is now leaning towards Mombasa as the preferred location for the refinery, moving away from earlier discussions that had focused on Tanga.

The development comes after diplomatic uncertainty surrounding the project. In April 2026, William Ruto announced that the refinery would be constructed in Tanga, but later Samia Suluhu Hassan stated that the Tanzanian government had not been formally consulted on the matter.

Dangote explained that Mombasa presents a stronger business case due to its port infrastructure and Kenya’s higher fuel consumption levels.

“I’m leaning more towards Mombasa because Mombasa has a much larger, deeper port,” Dangote said.

The proposed refinery is estimated to cost between $15 billion and $17 billion and is expected to significantly impact fuel supply and industrial development across East Africa.

Dangote also stated that the success of the project would depend on policy support from the Kenyan government, including the implementation of anti-dumping measures aimed at protecting local refining operations.

“The ball is in the hands of President Ruto. Whatever President Ruto says is what I’ll do,” he added.

The refinery proposal is part of broader regional efforts to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products and strengthen local manufacturing and energy security within East Africa.