Tanga Oil Refinery
![]() Location within Tanzania | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Refinery details | |
| Owners | 1. Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation 2. Uganda National Oil Company 3. Vitol Bahrain EC |
| Opened | 2036 (Expected) |
| Capacity | 200,000 barrels per day (32,000 m3/d) |
The Tanga Oil Refinery is a planned crude oil refinery in the city of Tanga on the Indian Ocean shores of mainland Tanzania. The refinery is planned to be fed by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) that stretches from the oil fields in the Western Region of Uganda to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania. The refinery is part of a broader project that intends to develop Tanga into "a regional energy hub".
Location
The refinery would be located at Tanga along the shores of the Indian Ocean on the coast of mainland Tanzania. Tanga is located approximately 338 kilometres (210 mi) north of Dar es Salaam, the largest city in the country.[1]
Overview
The two neighboring countries of Tanzania and Uganda plan to jointly develop the Tanzanian port city of Tanga into a regional energy hub. They have enlisted the participation of Vitol Bahrain EC in the plan. "The proposed hub is expected to support petroleum storage, blending, logistics, marine services and fuel trading". The proposed infrastructure developments include, but are not limited to:[2]
- The eastern end of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) at the Port of Tanga
- The Tanga Oil Refinery
- The proposed Tanga-Namwabula Oil Products pipeline, carrying the refined products from this refinery back to Uganda.
- Storage facilities for crude oil and petroleum refined products.
- The Tanzania-Uganda Natural Gas Pipeline
- Other related infrastructure.[2]
History
In August 2026 the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and the Vitol Baharain EC (VBEC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to begin feasibility studies for this oil refinery and related infracture that is not yet in place. The price of construction is estimated at US$20 billion.[3][4][5]
Ownership
As of August 2026, the tentative ownership table was as follows:[3][5]
| Rank | Name of Owner | Percentage Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vitol Bahrain EC | |
| 2 | Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation | |
| 3 | Uganda National Oil Company | |
| 4 | Other Investors | |
| Total | 100.00 | |
See also
References
- ↑ "Road Distance Between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Tanga, Tanzania" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 Ayodeji Adegboyega (6 August 2026). "Tanzania and Uganda join forces to build East Africa's next energy hub in a move that could reshape regional fuel trade". Business Insider Africa. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 Africa Energy (20 August 2026). "Tanzania and Uganda sign refinery MoU". Africa Energy Newsletter. Hastings, United Kingdom. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ Julius Maricha (7 August 2026). "Tanzania, Uganda seek own oil refinery in Tanga". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- 1 2 Adonis Byemelwa (18 August 2026). "Tanga's $20 billion energy hub: Can Tanzania turn investment ambition into a powerhouse?". IPP Media. Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
