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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
David Coffey

Kenya breaks ground on $16bn refinery as environmental concerns grow

The ground-breaking ceremony for the Dangote East Africa oil refinery at the Port of Lamu on 30 September 2026, attended by the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Benin and Togo.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the Dangote East Africa oil refinery at the Port of Lamu on 30 September 2026, attended by the leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Benin and Togo. © AFP - LUIS TATO

East Africa is accelerating its push for greater energy independence with a new $16 billion refinery in Kenya – but the project is raising fears over the environmental cost of an expanding oil economy.

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote joined Kenyan President William Ruto and several African leaders on Wednesday to break ground on the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery at the Indian Ocean port of Lamu.

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