MWE Correspondent
Kenyan President William Ruto has held talks with Dangote Industries CEO Aliko Dangote on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, focusing on plans to advance a proposed East Africa refinery project in Lamu.
Ruto said Kenya is ready to break ground on the refinery, describing the project as a strategic investment expected to strengthen regional energy security, increase local value addition, create jobs and support Kenya’s industrialisation agenda.
The meeting was also attended by Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Chief Executive Officer Samaila Zubairu, who discussed financing arrangements and final preparations for the commencement of the project.
According to Ruto, the proposed refinery is expected to create new economic opportunities while strengthening regional supply chains and supporting East Africa’s ambition to develop into a competitive energy and industrial hub.
The project comes amid growing efforts by East African countries to expand refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products. The region remains heavily dependent on imported refined fuels, making refinery development a key part of discussions around energy security, industrialisation and regional trade.
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Kenya has previously identified the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor as a major platform for infrastructure and economic development in the country’s coastal region. Lamu is being developed as a strategic transport and logistics hub, with the wider corridor intended to connect Kenya to neighbouring landlocked markets.
A refinery located within or linked to the Lamu development corridor could potentially complement the area’s port, transport and industrial infrastructure by creating additional demand for logistics, storage, manufacturing and other supporting services.
The involvement of AFC also highlights the importance of securing long-term financing for large-scale energy infrastructure. The pan-African development finance institution has previously been involved in financing major infrastructure and energy projects across the continent.
For Dangote, the discussions come as the group continues expanding its footprint in Africa’s energy sector. Its Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, Nigeria, has become one of the continent’s largest refining facilities and is designed to process crude oil for domestic and export markets.
The proposed Kenyan refinery would therefore add to wider African efforts to increase domestic processing of crude oil and strengthen regional petroleum supply chains.
However, the project’s implementation will depend on final financing, technical preparations, regulatory approvals and other investment arrangements before construction can proceed.
Ruto and Dangote’s meeting at UNGA places the Lamu refinery proposal within broader discussions about Africa’s energy security, industrialisation and private-sector investment, as governments seek infrastructure capable of supporting economic growth and reducing dependence on imported refined products.
