President William Ruto and Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote have been joined by several African leaders in Lamu for the groundbreaking of the Sh2 trillion Dangote East Africa petroleum refinery and petrochemicals project.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Benin President Romuald Wadagni and Togo President Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové were among the leaders attending Wednesday’s ceremony, alongside representatives from other countries in the region.
The ceremony marks the formal start of construction of the refinery, which is planned as a 700,000-barrel-per-day facility targeting Kenya and the wider East African petroleum market.
The $16 billion project is expected to be completed by 2030 and is intended to reduce the region’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products. Regional governments have also been offered a combined 30 per cent stake in the refinery.
Dangote said the investment was part of a wider push to increase Africa’s refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported fuel.
“What we are trying to do is to make sure that we become self-sufficient in whatever we consume,” Dangote said ahead of the groundbreaking.
The refinery is also expected to support associated industries, including petrochemicals and bitumen production, while creating tens of thousands of jobs.
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