Speaking amid growing debate over the multi billion dollar refinery project, President Ruto said the choice of Tanga was based on commercial viability, logistics, and investor confidence rather than political considerations.
The Kenyan leader noted that governments within the East African region had agreed to support whichever site investors found most suitable for the ambitious energy project.
The refinery project, expected to significantly boost fuel processing capacity in East Africa, has attracted major interest from regional governments seeking to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.
Kenya had been viewed by some stakeholders as a possible host for the refinery due to its strategic location and expanding infrastructure, including the Port of Mombasa and the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport corridor.
However, President Ruto emphasized that the private sector investors financing the project had the final say on where the refinery would be established.
He said Dangote and his consortium had conducted extensive feasibility studies before identifying Tanga as the most commercially practical option.
“The investors made their decision based on business considerations. Governments cannot dictate where private investors choose to establish such a project,” Ruto said.
The Port of Tanga, located on Tanzania’s northern coastline near the Kenyan border, has increasingly become an important regional trade and energy hub.
Tanzania has invested heavily in upgrading the port infrastructure to handle larger cargo volumes and support industrial projects linked to oil and gas development.
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Analysts say the refinery could transform the East African energy sector by reducing reliance on imported refined fuel from the Middle East and other international markets.
The project is also expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate regional trade, and support industrialization efforts across the East African Community.
Despite concerns from some Kenyan stakeholders who believe the country missed out on a major economic opportunity, Ruto called for regional unity and cooperation instead of competition.
He argued that the benefits of the refinery would extend beyond Tanzania, helping stabilize fuel supply chains and lowering energy costs across East Africa.
The President further stressed that East African nations must embrace integration and collective development if the region is to compete effectively in the global economy.
The proposed refinery is expected to become one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in the region, with negotiations and planning processes continuing among investors, governments, and regional stakeholders.
