Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has raised concerns over a proposed oil refinery project in Tanga that had earlier been announced by Kenya’s President William Ruto.
Her remarks have created fresh questions about how the project was planned and whether proper consultations were done before it was made public.
The refinery project was presented by Ruto as a major regional investment that would involve several East African countries. He said the plan was part of a wider effort to strengthen industrial growth in the region and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
The project was also linked to Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote, whose name added weight to the proposal because of his experience in large-scale industrial investments.
However, President Suluhu said she had neither approved the project nor been informed about it before it was announced. Speaking publicly, she questioned how such a major investment involving Tanzanian land and resources could be discussed without her government being fully involved from the start.
Her comments suggested a serious gap in communication between the leaders and raised concerns about diplomatic coordination within the East African region.
Many observers were surprised that such a large project could be announced without clear support from the host country.
President Ruto later defended the proposal, saying the idea was meant to benefit the entire region through shared industrial development. He admitted that his first discussions about the refinery were with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and not directly with Tanzania.
This admission added more attention to the issue, with some questioning whether Tanzania had been treated as a full partner in the process. Since the refinery would be located in Tanga, Tanzania’s approval is seen as necessary for the project to move forward.
The situation has now placed the future of the multi-billion-dollar refinery in doubt. Without full backing from Tanzania, the project may face delays or even fail to take off.
