Dangote blames marketers, IOCs for Lamu refinery protests

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has blamed local marketers and international oil companies for the protests surrounding the proposed $16bn oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya. Dangote, along with Kenyan President William Ruto, performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery despite a court ordering a halt to construction due to a land dispute.

The refinery is anticipated to process 700,000 barrels of oil per day when completed in 2030. Dangote addressed the issue on the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme, disputing claims that the company had taken more land than necessary, stating they only utilized the portion allocated by the Kenyan Government. He dismissed the protests as "games played by local marketers and international players," insisting the project will proceed as planned by 2030.

The landmark event attracted leaders from Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo, and Benin. Dangote offered regional governments a 30% stake in the refinery, which he sees as his largest non-Nigerian investment. Despite the protests, Dangote remains confident in the project's success, stating it will demonstrate the replicability of his refinery model in Nigeria.

However, the Save Lamu campaign group has raised environmental concerns, and the project has been halted pending an upcoming court hearing on October 14. The refinery is expected to create 60,000 jobs at its peak and supply power to Dangote's operations and other emerging industries in the region.