Africa's richest man Dangote proposes 700,000 bpd oil refinery in Kenya

Published Jul 22, 08:00 PM UTC

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has proposed building a $17 billion, 700,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery on Kenya's Lamu Island. The facility would process crude for Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, addressing East Africa's complete dependence on imported refined fuel since the region's last refinery shut down in 2013. The planned capacity exceeds East Africa's current demand of 450,000 bpd, allowing for exports to other African markets. The project is situated along the LAPSSET Corridor and has already attracted a $100 million investment pledge from Tanzanian billionaire Mohammed Dewji. It would test intra-African industrial integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Construction and operation are projected to create over 60,000 jobs, making it one of the largest industrial employers ever proposed for Kenya's coast.