In a landmark event for East African industrialization, five African leaders gathered in Lamu, Kenya, to celebrate the groundbreaking of a $16 billion oil refinery project. The ceremony was attended by Kenyan President William Ruto and Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited.
The other dignitaries included heads of state from Uganda, Ethiopia, Togo, and Benin, alongside former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. Together, they symbolically signaled the start of construction by shoveling soil at the project site.
Once completed within 40 months, the refinery is set to process 700,000 barrels of oil daily. This initiative aims to bolster Africa’s self-reliance in processing raw materials. Dangote emphasized the need for the continent to industrialize and reduce reliance on imports.
The refinery will source oil from neighboring countries like Uganda, which is preparing to export oil through Tanzania, and South Sudan, which sends its oil through Sudan. According to Dangote, East Africa has a substantial market for the refined oil, with demand exceeding local production capacities.
Originally, the refinery was intended for Tanzania’s Tanga coastal town, but the location was shifted to Lamu due to its deeper waters and suitable ground conditions.
Additionally, representatives from other East African nations, including Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania, were present to mark this significant milestone in regional infrastructure development.
