Nigeria’s Dangote Group is planning to develop a 700 kb/d refinery in Kenya, with the objective of creating East Africa’s largest refinery, according to French news agency AFP.
The proposed refinery is expected to require up to three years for construction and would supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring countries, contributing to a reduction in East Africa’s reliance on imported fuels.
The project would also support Dangote Group’s strategy to expand its fuel-processing capacity across Africa following the commissioning of its 650 kb/d refinery in Lagos, Nigeria. The facility has contributed to transforming Nigeria into an emerging exporter of refined petroleum products across Africa and international markets.
The refinery would be located on Lamu Island, off the coast of Kenya, and would represent Dangote Group’s largest refining investment outside Nigeria.
Dangote Group has expressed interest for several months in developing a major refinery project in East Africa. The company had previously examined Tanga, Tanzania, as a potential location before selecting Kenya, citing infrastructure, logistics, and market considerations as key factors behind the decision.
Since the closure of the Mombasa refinery in 2013, Kenya imports all its oil products, totaling 5.2 Mt in 2025, 4% more than the previous year and more than twice its 2010 oil product imports (Enerdata Global Energy Research).