Thursday, October 1, 2026 - Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has officially broken ground on a $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, launching one of the continent’s most ambitious energy investments.
The planned facility is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and supply petrol, diesel and jet fuel to Kenya and markets across East Africa. Construction is scheduled to target completion around 2030.
The project comes as East Africa seeks to reduce its dependence on imported refined petroleum products and strengthen regional energy security.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has backed the investment, while Dangote has offered regional governments a combined 30% stake and plans for the refinery’s shares to eventually be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
The project is also expected to include major supporting infrastructure, including a 1,000-megawatt power plant.
But the multibillion-dollar project is already facing a legal challenge. 133 residents have petitioned the Kenyan courts over land rights, compensation and environmental concerns, with the next proceedings scheduled for October 14.
Despite the dispute, the groundbreaking has gone ahead, putting Lamu at the center of a potentially transformative new chapter for Kenya’s energy and industrial sector.
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