LAMU, Kenya – The Dangote East African Refinery in Lamu is set to break ground on September 30, 2026.
President William Ruto affirmed the launch of the construction during his visit to the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria.
Ruto, whom billionaire Aliko Dangote invited, said the KSh 2.6 trillion project will have the crude oil refining capacity of 700,000 barrels a day and produce more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel every day.
Cost of Dangote project in Kenya
“The refinery whose construction we launch in Kenya next week will be bigger. It will transform the petroleum sector in our country and region, providing fuel reliability and security, scaling up industrialisation and creating 60,000 jobs,” said Ruto.
Oilprice.com reported that the project will cost $17 billion (KSh 2.2 trillion) according to Kenyan authorities and $20 billion (KSh 2.6 trillion) as projected by Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian billionaire himself.
However, disclosed financing placed the cost of the project at $1.6 billion (KSh 207.2 billion) against the price tag by the Kenyan authorities and Dangote.
Who contributed to Dangote refinery in Kenya?
Dangote Group offered Kenya and other East African nations a 30% stake valued at $1.5 billion (KSh 194.3 billion) in the project.
According to David Ndii, President Ruto’s senior economic advisor, the country’s stake in the refinery is allocated at 10%, which is an equivalent of $500 million (KSh 64.8 billion).
Tanzania’s billionaire businessman Mohammed Dewji committed $100 (KSh 12.9 billion) into the project.
The refinery, upon completion, is expected to serve Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project, whose construction begins in October 2026, is anticipated to be completed between 2029 and 2030.
President William Ruto said upon completion, spin-off industries will emerge, including the production of fertilisers, chemicals, and packaging.
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