Nigerian industrial giant Dangote Industries Limited has announced that its planned oil refinery in Kenya will have a refining capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, positioning it as one of the largest energy projects in East Africa.
The announcement was made by Dangote Industries’ Group Vice President for Oil and Gas, Devakumar Edwin, during a visit by officials from the Republic of the Congo’s national oil company to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos on July 1.
According to the company, the Kenyan refinery forms part of its broader African expansion strategy, which will raise Dangote’s total refining capacity to 2.1 million barrels per day. Of this, 1.4 million barrels will be processed in Nigeria, while the remaining 700,000 barrels will come from the planned Kenyan facility.
The refinery is expected to supply petroleum products to Kenya and neighboring East African countries, helping reduce the region’s reliance on imported refined fuel while strengthening energy security.
The project follows earlier remarks by Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote, who revealed plans to establish a major refinery in East Africa. While the company initially considered Tanga Port in Tanzania, it later shifted its focus to Kenya, citing better infrastructure, maritime advantages, and stronger market demand.
Both Mombasa and Lamu ports remain under consideration as potential sites for the multibillion-shilling investment, with feasibility studies still underway to determine the most suitable location.
President William Ruto has previously confirmed that East African governments will participate in the project, with Kenya committing KSh21.5 billion in seed capital. The refinery, estimated to cost about KSh2.5 trillion, is expected to serve Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and other regional markets.
Construction is expected to begin later in 2026, although the final location has not yet been announced.
The refinery project also comes as Kenya prepares to commence commercial oil production from the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County before the end of 2026, a development that could further strengthen the country’s role in the regional energy sector.