Kenyan President William Ruto has commended the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as "a masterpiece of science, engineering, and art" after a tour of the facility in Lagos. He expressed confidence in the proposed $17 billion East African Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Lamu, stating that it will drive industrialization, create jobs, and promote regional economic integration. Ruto's visit followed his attendance at the United Nations General Assembly.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, with a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, has been praised for its scale, sophistication, and operational excellence. Ruto congratulated Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, on the project's success. He noted that the refinery's technical and operational processes demonstrate Dangote's deep understanding of the industry.
Preparations have been completed for the groundbreaking of the East African refinery project in Lamu, which is expected to become a strategic regional asset for East Africa. The project aims to drive industrialization, create jobs, strengthen engineering and technical capacity, enhance energy security, and promote regional economic integration. Ruto emphasized that the project will position Africa as an emerging growth center.
The Kenyan government has pledged its support for the project, with Ruto stating that they will eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks to ensure efficient project execution. The government has secured the required land and is working to minimize administrative delays. Ruto commended Dangote's leadership and commitment to the project.
Dangote Group's Chief Strategy Officer, Aliyu Suleiman, disclosed that the conglomerate generated approximately $17 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026. The company is on track to achieve a record $36 billion in revenue for the full year, representing a 100 percent increase over the $18 billion recorded in 2025.
Suleiman attributed the strong performance to sustained investments across key sectors, including cement, sugar, fertilizer, petroleum refining, and upstream oil and gas. He noted that Dangote Group's growth ambitions are anchored on its Vision 2030 Strategy, aimed at expanding the company's industrial footprint across Africa.
The proposed Lamu refinery and petrochemical complex, estimated at approximately $17 billion, will be a cornerstone of Dangote Group's ambition to build a $100 billion African industrial enterprise. Dangote Group has signed a contract worth over $450 million with Engineers India Limited to provide project management consultancy and engineering services for the Lamu refinery and petrochemical complex.
Key points
- The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.
- The proposed Lamu refinery and petrochemical complex is estimated at approximately $17 billion.
- Dangote Group generated approximately $17 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026.
