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Tanzanian billionaire Rostam Aziz is closing in on one of his most significant investments outside his home country, with his $130.5 million liquefied petroleum gas terminal in Kenya expected to be completed in March, reflecting a major step in his effort to expand LPG supply across East Africa while easing long-standing pressure on the region’s energy infrastructure.
New LPG hub to ease imports
The facility, developed by Taifa Gas Investments SEZ Limited, is rising on a 3,000-acre site in Dongo Kundu, Mombasa County, and carries a price tag of about Ksh16 billion, equivalent to $130.5 million. Construction stalled for months amid compensation and resettlement disputes involving affected residents, but work resumed after the issues were cleared in October.
The terminal is now about 80 percent complete and is set to become the first major investment inside the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone. With storage capacity of up to 30,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, it is expected to increase import capacity and reduce congestion at existing facilities. The project could influence pricing dynamics in Kenya’s cooking gas market, which has been dominated by companies linked to businessman Mohamed Jaffer for years.
30,000-tonne terminal eases LPG constraints
Aziz, who became the first Tanzanian to appear on Forbes’ global billionaires list, has spent decades building businesses across energy and telecommunications in East Africa. Through Taifa Gas, he has already established LPG storage and distribution networks in Tanzania and Rwanda, positioning the group as a key supplier in a region where demand for cleaner cooking fuel continues to rise.
In Kenya, progress at the Mombasa site accelerated after the High Court dismissed a petition that had halted construction. Once operational, the terminal is expected to reduce supply strain, attract additional LPG cargoes into the country and widen access for distributors who have struggled with limited storage space. The 30,000-tonne capacity is central to Aziz’s plan to support steadier imports and reduce reliance on aging infrastructure at the coast.
Taifa targets Zambia energy, mining
Beyond Kenya, Taifa Group is getting ready to expand its operations into parts of Southern Africa. In the next two years it plans to invest $500 million in Zambia on gas distribution, renewable energy and contract mining. This is the group's biggest expansion outside of East Africa and is meant to help Zambia's copper industry while making it easier for people to get reliable energy.
Taifa Gas expects to begin supplying LPG to Zambia in 2026, supported by new storage depots extending beyond Lusaka to reach industrial hubs and smaller towns. At the same time, the group is advancing plans to develop up to 500 megawatts of solar power, a move intended to help address power shortages that have weighed on mining operations and households alike. With three decades of experience in contract mining and equipment supply, Taifa Group is positioning itself as a long-term player in Zambia’s industrial economy.
