TANGA, May 16 -- AMANI Mrope is right: capital has memory. But memory cuts both ways. Capital is egotistic. It also remembers turnaround.

The debate over whether Aliko Dangote should anchor his next mega-refinery in Tanga, Tanzania, or Mombasa, Kenya, is not just about geography; it is a battle between institutional memory and strategic logic.

The narrative of “Tanga as the underdog” is invalid. While critics point to past bureaucratic hurdles, the logistical and operational reality of 2026 suggests that Tanga is not just a viable alternative; it is the mathematically superior choice.

Study findings on SubSaharan Africa refinery financing challenges demonstrate that financial hurdles transcend a countrys oilproducing histor...