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 north of Dar es Salaam, the largest city in the country.
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: 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.
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.
Ownership As of August 2026, the tentative ownership table was as follows:
+ Tanga Oil Refinery Stock Ownership (Tentative) Rank Name of OwnerPercentage Ownership 1 Vitol Bahrain EC 2 Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation 3 Uganda National Oil Company 4 Other Investors Total
See also
Uganda Oil Refinery Lamu Oil Refinery East African Crude Oil Pipeline Tanzania–Uganda Natural Gas Pipeline
References
External links $20bn Tanga energy hub faces new scrutiny over environmental risks