President Ruto, Dangote break ground on Sh2.2tn Lamu Oil Refinery

Nairobi, Kenya – President William Ruto and Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote have officially inaugurated construction on the Sh2.2 trillion East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu, Kenya. The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by African leaders such as Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Benin's President Romuald Wadagni, signals the beginning of a massive petroleum project.

The refinery, developed by Dangote Industries, aims to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily, positioning itself as one of the largest planned refining facilities in Africa. The project is expected to cater to Kenya and the broader East African market, including Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The project's completion is anticipated within three years, with Reuters estimating a 2030 completion target. The facility is poised to support petrochemical and industrial activities, potentially generating tens of thousands of jobs. However, the project faces legal challenges regarding land ownership and compensation, with a Kenyan court currently preserving parts of the site pending a local resident's case.

Despite these legal hurdles, Dangote Group insists the groundbreaking will proceed. The refinery aims to bolster regional energy supply, petroleum processing, and Lamu's development as a key energy and logistics hub, as East African nations continue to rely heavily on imported refined petroleum products.