A Kenyan court has issued an order halting activities at the site of Dangote's proposed $16bn oil refinery in Lamu County. The Malindi Environment and Land Court directed the parties to maintain "the status quo prevailing" pending further hearing of the case. The case was brought by farmers and residents of Chandavai in Lamu County, who opposed the refinery project.
The petitioners alleged that they were forcibly removed from their land and that their properties were destroyed. They also claimed that Dangote and the Kenyan authorities had not complied with Kenya's environmental laws, which require a mandatory environmental impact assessment before implementing any major project. The petitioners further argued that the project did not comply with Kenya's constitution.
Judge Jane Onyango issued the order on September 25, with the court expected to give further directions on October 14. George Wakahiu, a lawyer representing the petitioners, said the ruling means construction activities at the project site should not begin before the October 14 hearing. The proposed refinery is planned to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.
Dangote Group said the court had not stopped the planned groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery. However, activities at the proposed refinery site may be affected by the court order pending the October 14 hearing. The company said both parties are required not to carry out activities until the case is heard.
Kenyan President William Ruto had earlier said his government was fast-tracking administrative processes for the project to prevent delays in its construction and operation. Ruto made the statement during a visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, ahead of the planned September 30 groundbreaking ceremony in Kenya.
Ruto described the refinery as a regional project that would support industrial activities in East Africa, create jobs, and improve technical skills in the region. Dangote Group founder Aliko Dangote said the proposed Kenyan refinery would be bigger than the existing Dangote refinery in Nigeria.
The court order is a setback for the Dangote Group, which had been eagerly awaiting the start of construction on the refinery. The project's fate will be determined on October 14, when the court will give further directions on the case.
Key points
- A Kenyan court has halted activities at the site of Dangote's proposed $16bn oil refinery in Lamu County due to a dispute over land ownership and environmental concerns.
- The court order is a setback for the Dangote Group, which had been eagerly awaiting the start of construction on the refinery.
- The project's fate will be determined on October 14, when the court will give further directions on the case.
