Kenyan President William Ruto visited the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria, at the invitation of Dangote Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote. The visit comes ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony for the Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, scheduled for September 30, 2026. Ruto toured the Nigerian refinery, which has a crude refining capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria produces more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel every day. According to Ruto, the facility has extensive infrastructure for transporting crude oil to the refinery, including 120km of sea cables to move crude from ships to the refinery. He described the achievement as a testament to what African governments, investors, and financial institutions can accomplish through collaboration.
Ruto stated that the refinery planned for Lamu, Kenya, will be larger than the Nigerian facility and will transform Kenya's petroleum sector. The Kenyan refinery is expected to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. Ruto emphasized that the project will provide fuel reliability and security, scale up industrialisation, and create 60,000 jobs.
The planned Lamu refinery will also stimulate the growth of other industries in Kenya, including the production of fertilisers, chemicals, and packaging. Ruto added that when the refinery is completed, spin-off industries will emerge, contributing to the country's economic growth.
During his visit, Ruto expressed his appreciation for the Dangote Group's investment in the Nigerian refinery. He noted that the collaboration between African governments, investors, and financial institutions is crucial for achieving similar successes in the region.
The Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, is expected to have a significant impact on the region's petroleum sector. The project's groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for September 30, 2026, and will mark a major milestone in Kenya's industrialisation efforts.
According to InfoGiant FM, Ruto's visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria highlights the growing partnership between Kenya and Nigeria in the energy sector. The Dangote Group's investment in the Nigerian refinery serves as a model for similar projects in the region.
Key points
- The Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu, Kenya, is expected to create 60,000 jobs and transform the country's petroleum sector.
- The Nigerian refinery has a crude refining capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and produces over 100 million litres of fuel daily.
- The Lamu refinery's groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for September 30, 2026.
