President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has attributed protests surrounding his proposed $16 billion refinery in Lamu, Kenya, to what he described as opposition from local petroleum marketers and international oil companies.
Dangote spoke after he and Kenyan President William Ruto performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed refinery on Wednesday.
The ceremony took place amid a legal dispute over the land earmarked for the project, with a Kenyan court restricting some construction activities pending further proceedings.
Speaking to the BBC’s Focus on Africa, Dangote rejected claims that his company had taken more land than required for the project.
He said Dangote Industries was using only the portion of land allocated to it by the Kenyan government.
Asked about demonstrations by residents, Dangote questioned the basis of the protests and described them as “games played by local marketers and international players.”
He maintained that the opposition would not prevent the refinery from being completed.
Refinery planned for 2030
The proposed facility is expected to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day and is scheduled for completion in 2030.
Reuters reports that the refinery is designed to supply petroleum products to Kenya and other East African markets, including diesel, petrol and jet fuel.
Dangote said the project would replicate the industrial model of his refinery in Lagos.
“Lekki proved that it can be done, Lamu must prove that it can be repeated,” he said, according to reports.
The refinery is expected to form part of a wider industrial complex that will include a 1,000-megawatt power plant, while the project could also support petrochemical and other related industries.
Land dispute remains before court
Despite the groundbreaking ceremony, the project continues to face legal and community challenges.
Local residents and environmental campaigners have raised concerns over land rights, compensation and the potential environmental impact of the development.
Reuters reported that Kenya’s High Court has ordered preservation of parts of the disputed site pending a hearing in a case brought by local residents.
Dangote has rejected the criticism and said the project will proceed according to schedule.
He has also offered regional governments a combined 30 per cent stake in the refinery, according to Reuters.
The project is being positioned as a major investment in East Africa’s energy infrastructure and is expected to reduce the region’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
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Excerpt: Aliko Dangote has blamed local marketers and international oil companies for protests surrounding his proposed $16bn refinery in Lamu, Kenya.
Image Alt Text: Aliko Dangote and William Ruto at Lamu refinery groundbreaking
Image Caption: Aliko Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto during the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Lamu refinery.
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