Tanzania's Suluhu Says Oil Refinery Never Approved, Questions Ruto

Tanzania’s Suluhu Says Oil Refinery Never Approved, Questions Ruto

Tanzania was not aware of plans to build an oil refinery in Tanga before President William Ruto and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote made the announcement in Nairobi last month, it has now emerged.

While addressing the media after a high-level meeting on Monday, May 4, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu revealed she was unaware of the project and had not given any clearance.

Speaking at a forum in Tanzania after Ruto’s state visit, Suluhu questioned Ruto about the plan.

Suluhu revealed that she had no prior knowledge of any formal plan to build such a refinery in her country and requested clarification on the matter from her Kenyan counterpart.

“As we were speaking privately, I asked President Ruto to explain why he went ahead and announced a refinery project in Tanga while I was unaware of it,” President Samia Suluhu said.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu has revealed that she reprimanded President William Ruto for his announcement about the Tanga refinery, saying she was not aware of it beforehand.

Speaking during the MoU signing and press conference at State House in Dar es Salaam, Samia pressed… pic.twitter.com/jT9BlZhM7B
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) May 4, 2026

“He now needs to explain to us why he made that announcement.”

Her remarks immediately cast doubt on the status of the project and raised questions about the level of bilateral consultation preceding Ruto’s announcement.

President Ruto, during the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Expo in Nairobi on Tuesday, April 28, revealed that, together with Samia and Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, they had already agreed on a single large refinery that was to be constructed in Tanzania.

“We have made the decision that we are going to do this together,” Ruto stated.

“We are going to harness the synergies of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan, possibly working together, so that we can have one big refinery here.”

After Suluhu’s confrontation, Ruto was forced to respond, giving a detailed explanation of the proposed multi-billion-dollar oil refinery.

"Nimeambiwa kwamba tangazo langu limewakera kiasi!"~LISTEN as President Ruto forced to explain to angry Tanzanians why he announced his intention to build a refinery in Tanga (their territory) together with Uganda's Museveni without consulting Samia Suluhu pic.twitter.com/3M48re2Hu4
— Lightcast TV Kenya (@Lightcasttvke) May 4, 2026

Addressing the issue, Kenya’s Head of State defended his earlier announcement, describing the people of Tanzania as lucky to have the refinery built on their land.

According to Ruto, the refinery is a major opportunity for business, industrialisation, and regional cooperation among East African nations.

However, Ruto revealed that his discussions were with Uganda’s Museveni and did not include Suluhu, as earlier stated.

“The building of a refinery is a big opportunity for business and industrialisation,” Ruto said.

“When I discussed with President Yoweri Museveni, our discussion was about how to industrialise our region using our resources.”

“It is my belief, and that of the leaders in our region, that whatever raw materials we have should be used for the industrialisation of our region so that we can create jobs here,” he added.

Ruto went further to express optimism that Tanzania would embrace the proposal, noting that several countries had already shown willingness to invest in the project.

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“The good people of Tanzania, you are lucky that we are discussing having a refinery in Tanga,” he said.

“It is an investment that Kenya and Uganda are willing to invest in. You have heard Rwanda is also willing to invest, and many other countries are willing to invest, and I hope Tanzania is also willing to invest.”

The recent development comes after Dangote revealed the plans to back the refinery, asking Kenya and Uganda to invest in it for it to be a regional refinery.

It is worth noting that the East African region has discovered crude oil deposits, including over 560 million barrels in Turkana, which is expected to be exported by the end of the year.

If the refinery is built, Kenya and its neighbours will refine their own crude oil and therefore create jobs and supply motorists with cheaper fuel.

Tanzania’s Suluhu Says Oil Refinery Never Approved, Questions Ruto