At least six heads of state and government leaders are expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sh2.2 trillion East Africa Oil Refinery in Lamu on Wednesday, September 30. The leaders include Rwanda President Paul Kagame, Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye. Benin's Romuald Wadagni and Togo's Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové are also expected to attend the event.
The East Africa Oil Refinery, being developed by Dangote Group, will take up to three years to build and will process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day. The refinery will supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighboring countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is expected to create about 60,000 jobs and support Kenya's industrialisation and fuel security.
The ceremony comes a day after police fired tear gas to disperse Lamu residents protesting over land rights and compensation before construction begins. The protests followed a Malindi Environment and Land Court order requiring parties to maintain the status quo on disputed land until October 14. The court declined to stop the planned groundbreaking. A case was filed by 133 Chandavai residents who claim their families have occupied, cultivated, and developed parts of the land for generations.
Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, dismissed concerns that the court case would derail the project during a meeting with Kenyan and East African investors in Nairobi on Tuesday. Dangote described the court case as normal for Africa and expressed confidence that the project would proceed as planned. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi also maintained that the launch would proceed despite the court case.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) said a ship carrying 2,930 metric tonnes of construction equipment docked at Lamu Port on Saturday, September 26, ahead of the groundbreaking. The equipment is expected to support the construction of the refinery, which Dangote Group plans to develop as a major energy investment outside Nigeria. The refinery is expected to be a game-changer for Kenya's energy sector.
Dangote has proposed that Kenya and two other East African countries take a combined 30 per cent stake in the project. He expressed optimism that the refinery would attract more investors to Kenya and support the country's economic growth. The project is expected to have a significant impact on the region's energy landscape.
President William Ruto has expressed confidence that the refinery would support Kenya's industrialisation and fuel security. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy and create new opportunities for investors. The launch of the refinery is seen as a major milestone in Kenya's energy sector.
Key points
- The East Africa Oil Refinery is expected to create about 60,000 jobs and support Kenya's industrialisation and fuel security.
- The refinery will process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil a day and supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighboring countries.
- The project has faced some challenges, including a court case filed by Lamu residents protesting over land rights and compensation.
