.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
Article content
(Bloomberg) — Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said she wasn’t consulted over a plan to establish a 650,000 barrels-a-day refinery in her nation, with the plant jointly owned by East African countries and Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
The proposal was announced two weeks ago at an infrastructure summit in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, after talks between Dangote, Kenyan President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni. Hassan didn’t attend the conference.
Article content
Article content
Article content
“In my private discussions with Ruto, I pressed him: ‘Why did you announce a refinery in Tanga and I know nothing about it?’” Hassan said in Dar es Salaam during Ruto’s visit to Tanzania on Monday.
Article content
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
Tanzanians would be “lucky” to have the refinery, Ruto responded in his speech to government officials, urging his counterpart to support the planned investment.
Article content
“I’ve been told that our announcement about building a refinery in Tanga has offended you a lot. Had I known, I would have announced a refinery in Mombasa instead, because the building of a refinery is a big opportunity,” Ruto said, referring to the Kenyan port city 130 kilometers (80 miles) away from Tanga.
Article content
Tanga, a port city in northeastern Tanzania close to the Kenyan border, is the endpoint of a crude pipeline from neighboring Uganda, which plans to start exporting by the end of the year. Museveni pledged last month to supply the refinery with some Ugandan crude. Ruto said Kenya would send some of its own oil to Tanga for refining.
Article content
The push for a regional refinery has gained urgency as the war in the Persian Gulf exposes East Africa’s reliance on imported fuel from the Middle East. Some eastern and southern African nations get three-quarters or more of their fuel imports from the region, according to energy consultancy CITAC.
Article content
Article content
Dangote is pitching Tanga as an East African version of his 650,000 barrel-a-day refinery in Lagos, which recently reached full capacity and helped Nigeria cut its reliance on imported fuel. He said the Tanzanian plant could be built within four to five years if governments back it.
Article content
“We need each other,” Ruto said in his speech. “The sooner we realize that, the sooner we avoid the unnecessary suspicions between our two countries. It’s not helping anybody.”
Article content
The Next Africa newsletter runs every weekday. Sign up here for the newsletter, and subscribe to the Next Africa podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.
Article content
English (US)