(DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA) – Tanzania’s Amsons Group has acquired the Tanzanian downstream business of Geneva-based Oryx Energies in a deal worth more than $230 million (KES 29.9 billion), giving the local conglomerate control of key fuel storage, retail and distribution assets in the country.
The transaction transfers Oryx’s retail service stations, bulk storage terminals and distribution infrastructure to Amsons, along with equity interests in strategic fuel hub partnerships, including storage operations at the Tanzania International Petroleum Reserves (TIPER) in Dar es Salaam .
The deal will raise Amsons Group’s fuel storage capacity from 300,000 metric tonnes to 800,000 metric tonnes and expand its retail network to about 300 stations across several countries . Completion remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions, with Oryx continuing to operate the business as usual in the interim .
Amsons Group managing director Edha Nahdi said the acquisition is a transformative step in the group’s strategy to expand its footprint in energy and logistics.
“Integrating Oryx’s extensive distribution network and storage capabilities allows us to strengthen domestic fuel security and anchor Tanzania as a vital regional logistics hub for East and Central Africa,” Nahdi said .
Oryx Energies chief executive Moussa Diao said the sale marks a significant milestone in East Africa’s downstream energy landscape, transferring key infrastructure into local hands.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Amsons Group, a Tanzanian business with strong roots in the country and a clear ambition for growth,” Diao said . He said Tanzania has been an important part of Oryx’s history and that the company is confident Amsons is well placed to take the business into its next chapter .
The transaction is part of Oryx Energies’ ongoing strategic review of its downstream asset portfolio in Africa. Diao said the company will focus its capital and resources on developing energy infrastructure across the continent and strengthening its trading activities .
The acquisition adds to Amsons Group’s aggressive expansion in the region over the past two years. The group acquired Mbeya Cement in Tanzania and has pursued buyout offers for Kenyan blue-chip cement makers Bamburi Cement and East Africa Portland Cement (EAPC) . It has also announced a 1,000 megawatt solar investment in Zambia .
By linking Tanzanian ports, Mozambican transit corridors and Kenyan industrial centres, Amsons Group is building what it describes as a private energy corridor across East and Central Africa.