Tanzanian Billionaire Rostam Aziz's 100 Million Gas Plant In Kenya Halted By Court Freeze

Tanzanian billionaire Rostam Aziz has hit a legal roadblock in Kenya, where a court has refused to lift an order freezing work on his Sh16 billion 103 million liquefied petroleum gas plant. The ruling, delivered Tuesday, leaves Azizs Taifa Gas project in limbo at the Mombasa Special Economic Zone. Two Likoni residentsMohamed Karungu and Raphael Nyirohad petitioned the court to halt the development, citing concerns over regulatory approvals and environmental safeguards. For Aziz, whose Taifa Gas dominates Tanzanias LPG market and has been expanding aggressively across East Africa, the setback is significant. He has promoted the Mombasa plant as a game-changer for regional energy supply, promising cheaper cooking gas and jobs in a sector that has struggled with high prices and inconsistent supply. The courts refusal to suspend the freeze means the project cannot move forward with construction or procurement until pending legal questions are resolved. Lawyers for the petitioners insist the freeze is necessary to guarantee thorough oversight, while Aziz's supporters insist the decision could erode investor confidence and stall the development of much-needed energy infrastructure. Rostam Aziz, the first Tanzanian to be included in the Forbes list of world billionaires, has been open about his drive to transform East Africas energy sector. Through Taifa Gas, he has poured major resources into storage and distribution facilities in Tanzania and Rwanda, cementing the companys role as a top regional supplier. The Mombasa plant was expected to give the company a foothold in Kenyas growing LPG market and to reduce reliance on imports through smaller, less efficient depots. Kenya has been trying to attract big-ticket energy investments as part of its industrialization drive, and Azizs project was touted as a key plank in those plans. Analysts warn that prolonged delays could increase costs and complicate financing. This decision underscores the tension between environmental safeguards and the urgent need for energy infrastructure, said one Nairobi-based energy consultant. The dispute comes as the wider region grapples with balancing economic growth and environmental concerns. For Aziz, whose business empire has made him one of Africas richest men, the court battle is a test of both patience and strategy.