DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — President William Ruto has moved to clarify his remarks on a proposed oil refinery in Tanga, saying the idea emerged from broader regional discussions, after Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan publicly questioned the announcement.
The clarification came during a joint engagement where Suluhu disclosed that she had confronted Ruto over the proposal, saying she had not been consulted before it was made public.
“When we were having a conversation, I asked Ruto why he announced a refinery in Tanga without my knowledge, he will say why he announced it,” Suluhu said as she invited him to respond.
Ruto: Not a unilateral decision
In his response, President Ruto said the refinery proposal should not be viewed as a unilateral Kenyan initiative but as part of ongoing regional efforts to industrialise East Africa.
“Allow me to explain our discussion on Tanga as a place of refinery. I have been informed that my decision to announce the building of a refinery in Tanga has not sit well with you. If I knew, I would have announced that refinery to be built in Mombasa,” he said.
He explained that the concept arose from consultations involving regional leaders, including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, focusing on how East African countries can jointly utilise oil, mineral, and agricultural resources to spur industrial growth and job creation.
Strategic case for Tanga
President Ruto pointed to Tanga’s geographic proximity to Mombasa—about 190 kilometres—as a potential logistical advantage, arguing that integrated infrastructure could support efficient distribution of refined petroleum products across the region.
He added that the vision extends beyond oil, positioning Tanga as a potential hub for mineral processing as East Africa seeks to shift from exporting raw materials to value addition.
“It is no longer sustainable for us to export raw materials. As a region, we must deliberately avoid exporting value, jobs, and opportunities,” Ruto said.
Dangote proposal revives regional push
The debate comes weeks after Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote proposed establishing a major refinery in East Africa during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi.
Dangote said the project could mirror the scale of his Dangote Refinery in Nigeria—one of the largest in the world—and could be completed within five years with government backing.
He urged countries such as Kenya and Uganda to take the lead, arguing that Africa has the financial and technical capacity to execute large-scale industrial projects without overreliance on external investors.
Diplomacy, policy, and next steps
Suluhu’s earlier remarks highlighted concerns over state consultation and sovereignty in cross-border investments, underscoring that projects of such magnitude require formal government alignment.
The exchange between the two leaders reflects both ambition and friction in East Africa’s push for economic integration, where joint projects promise scale and efficiency but demand careful diplomatic coordination.
