Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has accused local oil marketers and international oil companies of fuelling protests against his proposed $16 billion refinery project in Lamu, Kenya.
Dangote made the allegation as he defended the project following protests by some residents over land acquired for the proposed refinery.
The billionaire and Kenyan President William Ruto had earlier performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the massive project, which is expected to have a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day when completed...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Speaking about the protests, Dangote questioned why residents would demonstrate against a project that he said would bring development and economic opportunities to the region.
He dismissed the protests as efforts allegedly being driven by local marketers and international players who, according to him, may be opposed to the refinery’s potential impact on the regional petroleum market.
Dangote insisted that the protests would not stop the project and maintained that the refinery would be completed by 2030 as planned.
The proposed refinery is expected to become one of the largest industrial projects in East Africa and would serve markets across the region.
Dangote said the project could create about 60,000 jobs at the peak of construction, while also generating wider economic opportunities for communities around Lamu.
The refinery project is also expected to include a 1,000-megawatt power plant, which would provide electricity for Dangote’s operations and potentially supply other industries that establish businesses around the facility.
However, the project has faced opposition from some residents and environmental campaigners over concerns about land acquisition, compensation and the potential environmental impact on the local community.
A group of Lamu residents has challenged the project in court, resulting in restrictions on some construction activities on the disputed land pending further proceedings.
Dangote has rejected claims that his company took more land than required, insisting that the project is being developed on land allocated by the Kenyan government.
He also pointed to the success of his 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Nigeria as evidence that the Lamu project can be successfully delivered.
With construction facing both legal and community challenges, attention will now focus on whether the proposed refinery can remain on schedule for completion in 2030.
Dangote, however, remains firm that the project will proceed despite the protests and opposition surrounding the development.
