Dangote Industries begins $16 billion refinery construction in Kenya

Dangote Industries has commenced construction of a $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya. Led by Aliko Dangote, the facility is expected to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, with completion targeted for 2030. The project aims to transform Kenya into a major petroleum supply hub for East Africa, reducing the country's total reliance on imported refined fuels since the closure of the Mombasa refinery in 2013.

In a related development for regional energy logistics, Kenya has reactivated its petroleum transit route for Rwanda. On September 29, 2026, the vessel MT Sea Wolf arrived at the Kipevu Oil Terminal in Mombasa, delivering a 40,000-tonne consignment of refined petroleum from Oman’s OQ Trading. This marks the first shipment under a bilateral framework signed in June 2026, allowing the Rwanda National Energy Company to utilize Kenya’s Northern Corridor infrastructure for bulk imports.