Aliko Dangote has set September 30 as the date for the groundbreaking of the proposed oil refinery in Lamu.
The Nigerian billionaire confirmed the date on Thursday while speaking to investors and analysts during a visit to Botswana.
“We are launching it on September 30,” Dangote said, according to Reuters.
The announcement gives a firm date to a project that has been under discussion for months, with an earlier government update indicating that construction was expected to start sometime in September.
The refinery is anticipated to cater to the East African market and will be one of several industrial facilities to be developed in Lamu.
The region can produce over 600,000 barrels of crude oil per day for the refinery according to President William Ruto’s economic advisor, David Ndii.
Around 350,000 barrels will be supplied by South Sudan, 250,000 and 120,000 will be provided by Uganda and Kenya respectively, Ndii added.
Dangote has proposed East African nations to acquire 30 per cent of the ownership of the Ksh2.59 trillion ($20 billion) refinery and petrochemical complex.
A 10 per cent ownership stake that is worth about Ksh64.74 billion ($500 million) has been proposed by Dangote to Kenya.
Etiophia and Rwanda have also expressed their interest in joining the stake of the region.
There are other facilities being developed by Kenya in conjunction with the refinery which include 1,000-megawatt power plant and special economic zones.
Government stated that the development will help boost industries like manufacturing, storage, and logistics thus making Lamu an energy and industrial hub.
Ruto had earlier stated that the construction of the refinery and the other associated projects would be creating about 60,000 jobs.
Construction of the refinery is expected to start in October 2026 after the groundbreaking, with the project expected to take up to three years to complete.
