African leaders and senior government officials gathered in Lamu, Kenya, on September 30, 2026, as construction officially began on the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery, a major energy and industrial project expected to transform the region’s petroleum sector.
Kenyan President William Ruto led the groundbreaking ceremony at Lamu, joined by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni, Togo’s President Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, among other dignitaries.
The refinery is planned to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, positioning it as one of the largest refinery projects in Africa. The facility is expected to supply petrol, diesel and aviation fuel to Kenya and other markets across East and Central Africa, helping reduce the region’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
The approximately $16 billion project is also expected to form part of a wider industrial complex that will include a 1,000-megawatt power plant, as well as fertiliser and chemical manufacturing facilities. Officials and project promoters say the development could create tens of thousands of jobs while supporting local skills development and economic activity around Lamu and the wider LAPSSET Corridor.
Dangote Group Chairman and CEO Aliko Dangote has positioned the project as part of a broader effort to increase Africa’s capacity to process its own natural resources rather than exporting raw materials and importing finished products. He also highlighted the importance of African ownership and investment in major projects across the continent.
The Kenyan government has linked the refinery to its plans to strengthen Lamu Port and the LAPSSET Corridor, which is designed to connect Kenya with neighbouring countries and create new opportunities for trade, transport and investment.
The project has, however, faced legal and environmental concerns, including a land dispute involving the proposed site and concerns raised over the potential impact on the wider Lamu area. Despite these challenges, the groundbreaking ceremony proceeded, marking the formal start of construction.
With construction now underway, the Dangote East Africa Refinery is set to become a significant industrial development not only for Kenya but also for the wider East African region, with its promoters targeting increased energy security, job creation and greater regional value addition.
