Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that his planned refinery in Kenya will feature heavier processing equipment and a larger power-generation facility than the existing Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria.
Dangote disclosed the plans during a visit by Kenyan President William Ruto to the 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos.
According to Dangote, the proposed Lamu refinery will have a power plant capable of generating about 1,000 megawatts, twice the generation capacity associated with the Nigerian facility. About 500MW is expected to be available for sale to the Kenyan government.
Kenya project to feature advanced equipment
Dangote said the Kenyan facility would also incorporate processing units that are heavier or more advanced than some of those at the Lagos refinery.
He specifically mentioned the inclusion of a coker and a vacuum distillation unit, equipment that the Nigerian refinery does not currently have.
The differences, he explained, are partly linked to the type of crude oil expected to be processed at the Kenyan facility.
The proposed Lamu refinery is designed to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, compared with the Nigerian refinery’s current 700,000-bpd operational capacity.
Ruto backs project
Ruto said the Kenyan government was working to fast-track the administrative requirements for the project, including land and other approvals, in an effort to prevent bureaucratic delays.
The Kenyan president described the refinery as a regional investment that could expand industrial activity, create jobs and strengthen energy security in East Africa.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Lamu project is scheduled for September 30, 2026.
Dangote also expanding Nigerian refinery
The Kenya project comes as Dangote Industries works on a major expansion of its Nigerian refinery.
The company plans to spend about $14.3 billion to double the refinery’s capacity from 700,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, with completion targeted for 2029.
The expansion is part of Dangote Group’s broader Vision 2030 strategy, which includes increasing refining capacity and expanding its energy operations across Africa.
The proposed Kenyan refinery would therefore give the group a major refining presence in both West and East Africa, with the Lamu facility expected to supply petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring markets.
