Dangote Addresses Protests Over $16bn Lamu Refinery Project

Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, defended his $16 billion refinery project in Lamu, Kenya, during an interview with the BBC’s Focus on Africa. He attributed the protests surrounding the project to local petroleum marketers and international oil companies (IOCs).

This statement followed the groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery, which took place on Wednesday, despite a court order that restricted construction activities due to a land dispute. The refinery is projected to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day when completed in 2030, making it one of the largest refining projects in Africa and the largest proposed refinery in East Africa.

Dangote dismissed claims that his company had acquired more land than necessary, asserting that they were utilizing only the land allocated by the Kenyan government. He questioned the basis of the protests, describing them as “games played by local marketers and international players,” and expressed confidence that they would not hinder the project or its timeline.