Tanzania’s Leader Says She Was Left Out of Plans for a New East African Oil Refinery
In early October 2024, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan publicly stated that she had not been consulted about a proposal to construct a large oil refinery in the port city of Tanga. The announcement came during a press conference in Dar es Salaam, where she recalled a private conversation with Kenyan President William Ruto:
“I pressed him: ‘Why did you announce a refinery in Tanga and I don’t know anything about it?’”
The remark highlighted a growing diplomatic tension over a project that has been framed as a regional infrastructure initiative.
Who Is Behind the Refinery Proposal?
The refinery plan was first disclosed at a meeting attended by Kenya’s President William Ruto, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote, whose conglomerate operates the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos. According to Bloomberg, the meeting took place last week and focused on establishing a shared processing hub for crude oil sourced from neighboring countries such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dangote’s representatives said the facility would be linked to Kenya’s Mombasa port via a pipeline, allowing refined products to be exported efficiently to international markets. The proposed capacity is intended to rival the Lagos refinery, which currently processes 650,000 barrels per day and helped Nigeria achieve fuel self‑sufficiency in 2023 (Reuters, 2023).
Projected Benefits and Timeline
During a formal address to Tanzanian government officials, President Ruto emphasized that the refinery would bring substantial economic gains to Tanzania, including job creation, increased tax revenues, and reduced reliance on imported petroleum products. He urged President Hassan to support the initiative, framing it as a catalyst for broader East African integration.
Aliko Dangote told reporters that his group aims to complete the refinery within four to five years, assuming financing and regulatory approvals proceed as planned. He added that the plant could eventually match the scale and technological sophistication of the Lagos facility, which spans over 2,600 hectares and incorporates advanced hydrocracking and catalytic cracking units.
Geopolitical Context
Analysts note that the timing of the proposal is significant. Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have disrupted traditional oil supply routes, prompting African nations to explore intra‑continental refining capacity to buffer against global price shocks. A recent International Energy Agency (IEA) outlook warned that regional supply disruptions could increase volatility in African fuel markets through 2025 (IEA, Oct. 2024).
By developing a refinery that processes crude from South Sudan and the DRC, the project seeks to reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined products, which currently account for roughly 70 % of the region’s consumption (AfDB, 2024).
Concerns Over Consultation and Transparency
President Hassan’s criticism raises questions about the consultation process governing cross‑border infrastructure projects. The African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) recommends that all affected states be involved early in feasibility studies to ensure alignment with national development plans (AU PIDA). In this case, Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy said it had received no formal notification of the Tanga refinery proposal prior to the public announcement.
Industry experts warn that insufficient stakeholder engagement can lead to project delays, legal challenges, and community opposition. “When a major infrastructure initiative bypasses the host country’s leadership, it undermines trust and can jeopardize long‑term viability,” said Dr. Amina J. Mohammed, a senior fellow at the Centre for African Energy Policy.
Looking Ahead
Both Kenya and Tanzania have expressed interest in deepening economic cooperation, particularly through the Northern Corridor transport network. Whether the refinery moves forward will likely hinge on diplomatic negotiations, financing arrangements, and adherence to regional regulatory frameworks.
For now, the episode serves as a reminder that even ambitious, continent‑wide projects require transparent dialogue and mutual consent among the nations they aim to serve.
