Dangote Eyes Fresh Tanzania Expansion as Government Pursues New Investments

Dangote Industries Limited could significantly expand its presence in Tanzania as the East African nation intensifies efforts to attract new investment into strategic sectors.

The renewed investment discussions follow high-level engagements between the Tanzanian government and the Dangote Group as authorities seek to accelerate industrial development, strengthen energy security and deepen regional economic integration.

A Tanzanian government delegation recently visited the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Lagos to explore opportunities for expanding the conglomerate’s investments beyond its existing operations in the country.

Leading the delegation, Tanzania’s Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Professor Kitila Mkumbo, said the visit builds on earlier discussions between President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Dangote Industries President and Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote.

According to the minister, Tanzania is interested in leveraging Dangote Group’s experience in large-scale industrial projects to support the country’s long-term economic transformation.

Dangote already operates one of Tanzania’s largest cement manufacturing facilities, representing an investment estimated at about $800 million.

The plant has become one of the company’s key operations outside Nigeria and serves the East African construction market.

The latest discussions, however, signal Tanzania’s intention to broaden the relationship beyond cement production.

Government officials identified fertiliser manufacturing, petroleum refining, energy development and other industrial projects as priority areas capable of strengthening domestic production, creating jobs and reducing import dependence.

The Tanzanian government also views increased private-sector investment as critical to achieving its industrialisation agenda and expanding value-added manufacturing across the economy.

Officials believe greater collaboration with African industrial groups such as Dangote Industries could help accelerate technology transfer, improve infrastructure development and enhance regional supply chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Energy security also featured prominently during the discussions.

Tanzanian authorities noted that recent volatility in global oil markets has reinforced the importance of expanding refining capacity within Africa to reduce exposure to external supply disruptions and imported fuel costs.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, with a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has become one of the continent’s largest industrial projects and is increasingly viewed by African governments as a model for strengthening regional energy independence.

Beyond refining, Tanzania sees opportunities to collaborate on fertiliser production to support agricultural productivity and food security, sectors that remain central to the country’s economic development strategy.

The renewed engagement reflects a broader trend of African governments seeking greater intra-African investment as policymakers work to strengthen manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on imports from outside the continent.

For Dangote Industries, further expansion into Tanzania would deepen its footprint in East Africa and complement its existing investments across several African countries in cement, agriculture, food processing and energy.