Ahead of the expected groundbreaking of Kenya’s proposed East Africa Refinery in Lamu, President William Ruto has visited Lagos for a tour of billionaire Aliko Dangote’s mega oil refinery.
ýRuto arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport yesterday and was received by Dangote and other senior Nigerian officials.
ýRuto’s visit together with First Lady Rachel Ruto and senior government officials of East Africa Refinery came five days before the planned groundbreaking ceremony on September 30.
ýThe planned Lamu facility, with a projected capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, is expected to become a major component of Kenya’s strategy to expand refining capacity and strengthen petroleum supply in the region.
ýThe Lagos visit came after Ruto met Dangote and Africa Finance Corporation chief executive Samaila Zubairu on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York earlier in the week.
ýThe discussions focused on financing and final preparations for the Lamu project.
ý’We are ready to break ground on the East Africa refinery in Lamu, a transformative project that will enhance the region’s energy security, deepen local value addition, create jobs and advance our industrialization agenda,’ Ruto said after the New York meeting.
ýThe proposed refinery is expected to process crude from Kenya’s oilfields in Lokichar, Turkana County, and supply refined petroleum products to markets in East and Central Africa.
ýThe project is being developed with Dangote’s involvement and support from the Africa Finance Corporation.
Current reports have placed its investment value at between $15 billion and $17 billion, equivalent to roughly Sh2 trillion at prevailing exchange rates.
ýThe September 30 groundbreaking is expected to bring together regional leaders and other key stakeholders, with preparations already under way in Lamu.
ýThe Lagos refinery tour gives Ruto an opportunity to inspect Dangote’s existing refining operation before the Kenyan project moves into its construction phase.
ýUpon arrival at the refinery, Ruto was taken on a guided tour of the sprawling facility by Dangote and other senior company officials.
ýThe tour covered key sections of the refinery and the adjoining petrochemicals complex, giving the President an overview of the plant’s operations, processing capacity and infrastructure.