Dangote Attributes Lamu Refinery Protests to Marketers

Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has blamed local marketers and international oil companies for protests regarding his proposed $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya. The groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery was held with Kenyan President William Ruto, despite a court halting construction due to a land dispute.

Dangote, speaking on the BBC’s Focus on Africa, dismissed the protests as orchestrated by external players, asserting that the refinery would proceed as planned and be operational by 2030, with a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. He refuted claims of excessive land acquisition, stating only the land allocated by the Kenyan Government was used.

The project, which is set to create approximately 60,000 jobs during peak construction, has faced environmental concerns from the Save Lamu campaign group. A group of 133 residents has approached the Kenyan High Court to halt construction, with the next hearing scheduled for October 14.