By Perez Karisa July 2, 2026
Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled an ambitious multi-billion-dollar investment plan for Tanzania following a series of high-level meetings with President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam, signaling a major boost for the country’s industrial and infrastructure ambitions.
The proposals, which span energy generation, fertilizer production, transport infrastructure and logistics, underscore Dangote Group’s commitment to expanding its footprint in East Africa while positioning Tanzania as a regional manufacturing and trade hub.
According to reports by Africa Business Communities, President Samia has already directed relevant government ministries and agencies to begin technical consultations with the Dangote Group to develop implementation frameworks for the proposed projects.
The planned investments are expected to strengthen Tanzania’s industrial capacity, improve regional trade connectivity and support economic integration across East and Southern Africa.
Among the flagship proposals is the construction of a 2,000-megawatt coal-fired power plant aimed at addressing electricity shortages that have constrained industrial growth in Tanzania. The additional generation capacity is expected to provide reliable power for factories, mining operations and large-scale manufacturing projects while supporting future economic expansion.
Dangote also plans to establish a modern urea fertilizer manufacturing plant that would increase fertilizer availability for farmers across the region, helping to reduce dependence on imports and improve agricultural productivity. The project is expected to support food security while lowering production costs for farmers in Tanzania and neighboring countries.
Another key component of the proposal is the development of the 812-kilometre Mtwara-Mbamba Bay transport corridor. The strategic infrastructure project would link Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coastline to Lake Nyasa, creating an efficient transport route for goods destined for landlocked countries including Malawi and Zambia.
The corridor is expected to facilitate the movement of raw materials, agricultural produce and manufactured goods while reducing transport costs and improving cross-border trade throughout the region.
Dangote’s proposals also seek to build on the company’s existing investments in Tanzania. The conglomerate already operates a $500 million cement manufacturing plant in Mtwara with an annual production capacity of three million tonnes.
To improve the efficiency of that operation, the company intends to construct a 40-kilometre concrete access road together with a dedicated port facility. The supporting infrastructure is expected to ease transport bottlenecks that have slowed cement exports and increased logistics costs.
The latest investment proposals highlight the growing partnership between President Samia’s administration and the Dangote Group as Tanzania continues to pursue industrialization through large-scale private sector investments.
The discussions also reflected broader regional ambitions beyond Tanzania. Reports indicate that Dangote has opted to establish his planned East African oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, following recent investment consultations in the region.
Despite locating the refinery in Kenya, Dangote reportedly invited the Tanzanian government to acquire an equity stake in the project, a move aimed at strengthening regional economic cooperation and ensuring that Tanzania also benefits from the refinery’s future operations.
Beyond Kenya and Tanzania, Dangote Group continues to expand its continental presence. The company is also developing a $2.5 billion fertilizer complex in Gode, Ethiopia, through a 60-40 joint venture with Ethiopian Investment Holdings.
These investments form part of Dangote’s wider Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to transform the conglomerate into one of Africa’s largest industrial enterprises by expanding manufacturing, energy production and logistics infrastructure across multiple countries.
If implemented, the Tanzania projects would rank among the largest private-sector investments in the country’s recent history, potentially creating thousands of jobs, strengthening regional supply chains and reinforcing Tanzania’s position as a key gateway for trade and industrial development in East and Central Africa.
