Kenyan President William Ruto has confirmed that the Dangote Oil Refinery will be officially launched on September 30. Ruto made the announcement after touring the existing facility in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria, at the invitation of Dangote Group president and CEO Aliko Dangote. The visit comes ahead of next week's groundbreaking ceremony for the Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu, Kenya. Ruto described the Nigerian project as proof of what the continent can achieve when its institutions work together.
The Nigerian facility is a significant industrial undertaking, with a crude oil refining capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. It produces more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel daily. To support its operations, the company constructed 120 kilometres of sea cables to transport crude oil from vessels directly to the refinery. Ruto said the project is a testament to what African governments, investors, and financial institutions can achieve when working together.
The president indicated that the Lamu refinery, whose construction begins next week, will surpass its Nigerian counterpart in scale. He said the project would fundamentally reshape Kenya's petroleum landscape and extend its impact across the wider region. The Kenya refinery is expected to be larger than its Nigerian counterpart and will generate 60,000 jobs upon completion.
Beyond direct employment, Ruto said the refinery is expected to spur the growth of ancillary industries once it becomes operational, including the manufacture of fertilisers, chemicals, and packaging materials. The project will also provide fuel reliability and security, scaling up industrialisation in the region.
Ruto's visit to the Nigerian refinery was part of his preparations for next week's development tour of Kenya's six Coast counties. The tour will feature the groundbreaking of the KSh 2 trillion East Africa Refinery in Lamu, a joint venture involving Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. During the tour, Ruto will also distribute nearly 200,000 title deeds and launch major government projects.
The Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu is expected to transform the petroleum sector in Kenya and the region. Ruto stated that the refinery will provide fuel reliability and security, scaling up industrialisation and creating 60,000 jobs. The project is a significant investment in the region's energy sector.
President Ruto's upcoming development tour of Kenya's six Coast counties will highlight the government's efforts to drive economic growth and development in the region. The tour will feature several key projects, including the East Africa Refinery in Lamu, which is expected to have a significant impact on the region's economy.
Key points
- The Dangote Oil Refinery in Nigeria has a crude oil refining capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.
- The Lamu refinery in Kenya is expected to create 60,000 jobs upon completion.
- The East Africa Refinery in Lamu is a joint venture involving Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.
