A high-powered gathering of African leaders, government officials and business figures has converged in Lamu for the groundbreaking of the proposed Dangote Refinery.
President William Ruto is hosting the ceremony on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, as Kenya formally launches construction of the multibillion-dollar project backed by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote.
Among the African leaders at the ceremony are President William Ruto of Kenya, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Togolese President Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové.
Benin President Romuald Wadagni is also among the dignitaries listed for the event.
Presidents, High-Level Delegations at Dangote Refinery Groundbreaking
Former Nigerian Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo and Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote are also attending the high-profile ceremony.
The gathering has also brought senior government representatives from across East Africa and the Great Lakes region.
During the proceedings, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki recognized Hassan Bea, Burundi’s Minister for Mineral Resources, Energy and Industry, as representing the Burundian government.
South Sudan was represented by Abu Daniel Chow, Head of Delegation for the Republic of South Sudan.
Antoine Marie, Rwanda’s Minister for Trade, was also recognised, while Tanzania was represented by Salome Wikliff Makamba, Deputy Minister from the Republic of Tanzania.
The representation from Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan brings the wider regional market into focus, although the ceremony program recognized government officials representing those countries rather than their presidents.
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What is being built in Lamu?
The Dangote East Africa Refinery is planned as a 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery and petrochemical complex at Lamu Port.
The project is estimated at about $16 billion, with construction beginning on September 30 and completion targeted for around 2030. The facility is being developed on land within the LAPSSET corridor.
At full capacity, the refinery would be designed to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil every day, putting it among the largest planned refining facilities on the African continent.
The project is expected to supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring countries, with planned markets including Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dangote has said the refinery will help reduce the region’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products. The facility is also planned as an integrated industrial complex rather than a fuel plant alone, with associated opportunities in petrochemicals, fertilizer, chemicals and packaging.
The project is expected to require crude from several sources, including regional producers and other African suppliers, as Kenya’s current oil production is not sufficient to support a refinery of this size.
1000 Megawatts to be Produced
Aliko Dangote has said the planned refinery and industrial complex in Lamu will generate electricity, with half the power expected to be sold to the Kenyan government.
Speaking during a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Nigeria, Dangote said the Lamu project will have a power plant capable of generating about 1,000 megawatts, meaning 500 megawatts could be supplied to the government.
“We are going to produce about 1,000 megawatts in Lamu, and we’ll have 500 megawatts to sell to the government of Kenya,” Dangote said.
He described the electricity as part of the refinery investment and an entry point for further business in the country.
“What this investment will do to Kenya’s economy is not only the refinery. The refinery is like actually the gate. Once you open up, you have the refinery, you’d be shocked at how many people will now come and, you know, invest in Kenya,” Dangote said.
30 percent stake offered to regional governments
Dangote has offered regional governments a combined 30 percent stake in the project, according to reports on the investment structure.
The proposed participation would give governments in the region a direct interest in a refinery designed to supply several East and Central African markets.
The scale of the project also means that crude supply and transport infrastructure will be critical once the refinery begins operations.
Also Read: Where Is Lamu in Kenya? Location, Flights, Hotels and How to Reach Dangote’s New Refinery
The groundbreaking follows the arrival of heavy construction equipment at Lamu Port.
On September 26, a vessel carrying 2,930 metric tonnes of construction machinery docked at the port ahead of the ceremony. The equipment is destined for the refinery project.
The refinery is also expected to create jobs and support businesses in the energy and manufacturing sectors.
President Ruto has put the potential employment impact at about 60,000 jobs, including direct and indirect opportunities.
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