Dangote Begins Work On $17bn Kenya Refinery Project
Dangote Industries Limited has officially commenced preliminary work on its proposed $17 billion oil refinery in Kenya, marking a major expansion of the company’s refining operations beyond Nigeria.
The project, expected to become the largest refinery in East Africa, is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and significantly reduce the region’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
The refinery will be located in Lamu County on Kenya’s coast and is expected to supply refined fuel to Kenya and neighbouring East African countries once completed.
Dangote Industries said preliminary site preparations have already begun, with full construction expected to gather pace after the completion of regulatory and engineering requirements.
According to the company, the multi-billion-dollar project is expected to take about three years to complete and will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs during both the construction and operational phases.
The refinery will be financed through a combination of the company’s internal funds, bond issuances and a planned initial public offering, according to Dangote Industries.
Company officials said the investment forms part of a broader strategy to expand refining capacity across Africa and strengthen energy security by increasing the continent’s ability to process its own crude oil.
The development comes after the successful operation of the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, which has become one of the world’s largest single-train refineries and has begun exporting refined petroleum products to several African countries.
Industry analysts say the Kenyan refinery is expected to boost regional fuel supply, reduce import costs and position East Africa as a major refining hub when the project becomes operational.