Tanzania is seeking to deepen its economic partnership with Dangote Group, with the East African nation expressing strong interest in attracting fresh investments in fertiliser production, energy and industrial infrastructure.
The Minister of State in the President’s Office responsible for Planning and Investment, Hon. Prof. Kitila A. Mkumbo, disclosed this when a high-powered Tanzanian delegation visited the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos.
Mkumbo said the visit was part of efforts to follow up on earlier discussions between Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on expanding the Group’s investment footprint in Tanzania.
He noted that Dangote already has a significant presence in Tanzania, where the company operates the country’s largest cement manufacturing plant, with an investment estimated at about $800 million.
“We have come here to make a follow-up on what they deliberated with our President in terms of further Dangote investments in Tanzania,” Mkumbo said.
According to the Minister, Tanzania is particularly interested in Dangote Group’s experience in fertiliser manufacturing and refinery operations, describing the company’s industrial capabilities as valuable to the economic transformation of Tanzania and the wider East African region.
Mkumbo said deeper collaboration with Dangote would also contribute to strengthening economic integration across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He stressed that while African nations have historically maintained strong political relationships, the continent must now focus more deliberately on economic integration, industrialisation and intra-African trade.
“Africa now needs economic liberation, and that can only come through industrialisation,” he said.
The Tanzanian Minister described Dangote as one of Africa’s foremost industrialists, noting that the Group’s investments are increasingly contributing to industrial development beyond Nigeria.
He added that Tanzania looks forward to working closely with Dangote Group as part of a broader Pan-African agenda aimed at expanding manufacturing capacity, creating economic opportunities and accelerating industrial development across the continent.
Refinery Capacity Key to Africa’s Energy Security
Mkumbo also highlighted the importance of developing local refining capacity to strengthen Africa’s energy security and reduce the continent’s vulnerability to disruptions in the international oil market.
He pointed to recent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and their potential impact on global energy prices, arguing that increased refining capacity from facilities such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery could help African economies withstand external shocks.
According to him, access to affordable and reliable energy remains critical to sustainable economic development, adding that increased refining capacity across Africa could help reduce energy costs and improve living standards.
The visit is part of ongoing engagements between the Tanzanian Government and Dangote Group aimed at identifying new opportunities for strategic investment, industrial development, energy security and regional economic integration.
The Tanzanian delegation included senior government officials and ministers responsible for industry and trade, energy, minerals, transport and works, alongside representatives of Dangote Group.
Photo Caption: Members of the Tanzanian delegation and senior officials of Dangote Industries Limited during the delegation’s visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos, on Thursday, August 6, 2026.