Africa's richest man is serious about exporting his refining empire to East Africa. Billionaire Aliko Dangote pledged last month to build a massive refinery in the region, but he's still deciding where.
Dangote visited Kenya and Uganda to pitch leaders on a duplicate of his Lagos facility. That plant processes 650,000 barrels daily, one of the world's largest.
He originally eyed Tanzania's port city of Tanga as the site. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan wasn't at that Nairobi meeting, however.
Hassan later said nobody had briefed her about the project beforehand. She's since met Dangote privately and pledged Tanzania's support.
The businessman has since widened his options considerably. Mombasa, a major Kenyan port with an abandoned refinery, now sits on his shortlist.
He's also considering Lamu, a coastal UNESCO World Heritage site in Kenya. All three locations fall within a roughly 370-kilometer stretch of Indian Ocean shoreline.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni told reporters his nation will back the venture. "We shall support Mr.
Dangote and we are ready to buy shares," Museveni said in a statement Sunday.
Museveni sees the $17 billion project as crucial for regional growth. His government aims to serve Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.
Uganda won't abandon its own refining ambitions, though. Museveni said Hoima will still get a 60,000 barrel-per-day plant worth $4 billion.
That project has dragged on for more than ten years already. Officials have struggled to secure financing and overcome technical hurdles.
East Africa depends heavily on imported fuels from the Persian Gulf region. The continent exports three-quarters of its crude but imports 70 percent of refined products like gasoline and diesel.
Iran tensions have sharpened concerns about fuel security across Africa. New domestic refining capacity could shield nations from global supply disruptions.
Hassan promised her government would invest in the regional refinery. She also indicated interest in Dangote's fertilizer production plans.
