Ruto explains Tanga refinery proposal after Suluhu query

President William Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu in Dar Es Salaam on May 4, 2026 / PCS

President William Ruto has clarified his remarks on a proposed regional oil refinery in Tanga, after Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said she was not consulted on the announcement.

Speaking during a joint engagement, Suluhu said she had raised concerns directly with Ruto, questioning the basis of the public statement on the project.

“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,” she said as she invited him to respond.

In his explanation, Ruto said the proposal was not a unilateral decision but part of wider regional discussions on industrialisation and the use of local resources.

“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 (Tanzanians). If I knew, I would have announced that refinery to be built in Mombasa,” he said.

Ruto said the idea of a refinery in Tanga emerged from consultations with regional leaders on how East Africa can jointly develop its oil, mineral and agricultural resources to drive industrial growth and job creation.

He noted that leaders including Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had been part of the broader discussions, with Kenya, Uganda and other regional partners expressing interest in participating in the project.

According to him, Tanga’s proximity to Mombasa, about 190 kilometres away, presents logistical advantages that could support integration of fuel infrastructure and efficient distribution of refined products across the region.

Ruto further said the plan goes beyond oil refining, pointing to a wider ambition to establish regional capacity for mineral processing.

“As we discuss Tanga as a refining hub, we must also consider positioning it as a centre for processing minerals. It is no longer sustainable for us to export raw materials. As a region, we must deliberately avoid exporting value, jobs and opportunities. Instead, we must retain and utilise them locally. That is the future of our development,” he said.

He warned that the continued export of unprocessed resources leads to loss of jobs, wealth and increased economic pressure on African economies.

“The private sector has made it clear that the continued export of raw materials results in exporting jobs, opportunities and wealth, while importing inflation, an approach that is counterproductive. I have engaged with Tanzanian leadership on the need for the country to take the lead in ensuring that regional resources are used effectively,” Ruto said.

The discussion comes weeks after billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote proposed the construction of a major oil refinery in East Africa during the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi.

Dangote said the project could mirror his 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Nigeria and be completed within five years if regional governments support it.

He urged Kenya and Uganda to spearhead the initiative, saying Africa has the capacity to finance large-scale industrial projects without heavy reliance on external investors. President Ruto and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni attended the summit.