Kenyan President William Ruto has toured the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos ahead of the planned groundbreaking of a major refinery project in Lamu, Kenya.
Ruto visited the Lekki refinery on Friday, September 25, at the invitation of Dangote Group President and CEO Aliko Dangote as Kenya prepares to begin construction of its own large-scale refinery project.
Ruto Visits Dangote Refinery
During the visit, Ruto inspected the Nigerian refinery and highlighted its scale and infrastructure.
The Dangote Refinery has a crude processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and, according to Ruto, produces more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel each day.
He also pointed to the facility’s infrastructure for transporting crude oil from ships to the refinery.
Ruto described the Nigerian project as an example of what governments, investors and financial institutions can achieve through collaboration.
Kenya’s Lamu Refinery
The visit comes just days before the planned groundbreaking of the Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu.
The Kenyan refinery is expected to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, with its groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for September 30, 2026. The project has been estimated at around $17 billion and is expected to create about 60,000 jobs.
The refinery is expected to serve Kenya and other markets in East Africa while supporting the development of industries connected to petroleum processing.
More Industries Expected Around the Refinery
Ruto said the Lamu project could stimulate the development of additional industries beyond fuel production.
These could include fertiliser, chemical and packaging manufacturing, creating opportunities around the refinery and its wider supply chain.
The Kenyan government has also said it is working to ensure the project can move ahead without unnecessary administrative delays.
Dangote’s Expanding Refinery Footprint
The Lamu project adds another major refinery development involving Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote.
The existing Dangote Refinery in Lagos remains one of Africa’s largest refining facilities, while the planned Kenyan project is expected to become a major petroleum and industrial hub in East Africa.
Construction of the Lamu refinery is expected to take several years, with Kenyan officials saying the project could take between three and four years to complete.
Groundbreaking Set for September 30
Attention will now turn to Lamu, where the groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30.
The project is expected to play a role in Kenya’s plans to strengthen domestic fuel supply while creating employment and encouraging investment in industries linked to petroleum refining.