Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote has announced the specific month when construction will commence on the proposed 700,000-barrels-per-day (bpd) oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya.
The disclosure marks a decisive step forward for the project, which has long been viewed as a cornerstone of East Africa’s energy infrastructure ambitions.
The confirmation resolves prolonged uncertainty regarding the facility's development schedule.
A senior executive at the Dangote Group had previously confirmed that Lamu would host the refinery, but the lack of a concrete start date had left investors and local stakeholders in limbo.
By providing a clear timeline, Dangote signals that the necessary regulatory and financial hurdles have been cleared.
The project faces significant environmental scrutiny.