Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is set to begin work on a $16 billion mega-refinery in Kenya, a project expected to boost fuel production and reduce Africa’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
The refinery, which is planned for Lamu on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, is expected to have a refining capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. According to Dangote, the facility would be larger than any refinery currently operating in Europe.
Dangote, who owns the Dangote refinery in Nigeria, said the Kenyan project would represent another major step towards increasing Africa’s capacity to meet its own energy needs.
The Lamu project is also expected to include a 1,000-megawatt power plant. Half of the electricity generated by the facility would be supplied to Kenya’s national grid.
The project has, however, faced opposition from some members of the local community over land rights. A court ruling issued on Monday allowed the planned groundbreaking to proceed, although the legal case will continue.
Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have also expressed concerns about the possible environmental impact of the project.
Responding to the concerns, Dangote said such challenges would not stop the project, arguing that some people oppose major development projects in Africa.
Lamu was selected over other locations, including Tanzania and Kenya’s port city of Mombasa. Dangote said Lamu offered better conditions, including cleaner water, solid ground and access to a deep-sea area.
Refinery to source crude from different countries
Questions have also been raised about the source of crude oil for the planned refinery, particularly because East African countries are only beginning to develop their oil reserves.
Dangote said the refinery would initially obtain crude from several international sources, including the Middle East and the United States.
He added that the facility would also be positioned to process crude from countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique as their oil production increases.
Dangote said Africa needed to begin expanding its refining capacity now to prepare for rising energy demand as the continent’s population and economies grow.
He described the 700,000-barrel-per-day facility as a major investment for the region but said it would only be a starting point in addressing Africa’s growing fuel needs.
Dangote also said the project was part of a broader vision to ensure that more African countries become self-sufficient in fuel production by 2030.
He stressed the need for Africa to develop its own industrial capacity and reduce dependence on foreign expertise for major projects.
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