Kenyan President William Ruto has lauded the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, describing it as "a masterpiece of science, engineering and art". During a tour of the facility, Ruto expressed his confidence in the proposed $17 billion East African Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Lamu, Kenya. He commended Aliko Dangote, Dangote Group president and chief executive, for his leadership and commitment to the project. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.
Ruto disclosed that preparations have been concluded for the groundbreaking ceremony of the East African refinery project in Lamu. The project is expected to drive industrialisation, create jobs, strengthen engineering and technical capacity, enhance energy security, and promote regional economic integration. The Kenyan government has secured the required land and is working to ensure efficient project execution. Ruto emphasised that the project will be a strategic regional asset for East Africa.
The East African refinery project is part of Dangote Group's ambitious growth plans. According to Aliyu Suleiman, Dangote Group's chief strategy officer, the conglomerate generated approximately $17 billion in revenue during the first half of 2026. The group is on course to achieve a record $36 billion in revenue for the full year, representing a 100 per cent increase over the $18 billion recorded in 2025. Suleiman attributed the strong performance to sustained investments across key sectors.
Dangote Group's growth ambitions are anchored on its Vision 2030 strategy, aimed at expanding the company's industrial footprint across Africa. The group executed a capital expenditure programme of approximately $50 billion between 2020 and 2025. Over the next five years, it intends to invest twice that amount as it accelerates its expansion across Africa. The proposed East African refinery in Kenya will be a cornerstone of the Group's ambition to build a $100 billion African industrial enterprise.
The East African refinery and petrochemical complex in Lamu is estimated at approximately $17 billion. Dangote Group has signed a contract worth more than $450 million with Engineers India Limited (EIL) to provide project management consultancy and engineering, procurement and construction management services. The partnership builds on EIL's experience and involvement in the successful development of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos.
Once completed, the East African refinery is expected to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, strengthening regional energy security and supporting industrial development across East Africa. Dangote Group is also progressing plans to expand the processing capacity of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria from 700,000 barrels per day to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day. The expansion is expected to further solidify Nigeria's position as a leading exporter of refined petroleum products.
President Ruto's visit and Dangote Group's ambitious growth plans highlight the increasing impact of African-led investments in driving the continent's industrial renaissance. With record revenue growth, a robust investment pipeline, expansion of refining capacity in Nigeria, and the planned development of the East African Oil Refinery in Kenya, Dangote Group is reinforcing its role as a key driver of Africa's economic transformation, energy security, industrial development, and regional integration.
Key points
- Dangote Group to invest $100 billion in African industrial enterprise
- East African refinery project to drive industrialisation and create jobs
- Dangote Group's revenue growth reaches $17 billion in first half of 2026
