Lamu: Kenyan President William Ruto announced that plans for East Africa's largest oil refinery are advancing following discussions with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote. The project is set to create approximately 60,000 jobs for young Kenyans.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ruto made the announcement during the launch of the second phase of the government's Nyota youth empowerment program. He confirmed reaching an agreement with Dangote to proceed with constructing the refinery in Lamu, a coastal county roughly 470 kilometers southeast of Nairobi. The refinery aims to serve not only Kenya but also Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, thus positioning Kenya as a regional energy hub.

The decision by Dangote Industries to establish the refinery in Lamu resolves months of speculation over its location, which had been under consideration for both Kenya and Tanzania. The refinery, with a planned capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, is poised to become the largest in East Africa. It will play a significant role in supporting industrial growth around the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor, a key infrastructure project that connects Kenya's coast with neighboring countries.

The construction of the refinery is expected to take about 30 months once initiated. Lamu was chosen for its strategic position on the Indian Ocean, featuring a deep-water port and proximity to transport corridors that serve several landlocked nations in East and Central Africa.