Dangote Industries Limited has started preliminary work on a major refinery project in Kenya valued at $17 billion. The facility, once complete, will process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil each day, supplying refined products across East Africa and cutting the region’s dependence on imported fuel.

The refinery will be built on Lamu Island, with construction expected to take around three years. It builds on the success of a similar Dangote refinery already operating in Lagos, Nigeria, and is part of the company’s broader push to expand refining capacity across the continent.

The project reflects a growing recognition across Africa that local refining is essential for energy security and industrial growth. Financing will come from multiple sources. Its completion follows a broader trend of renewed interest in domestic refining projects across Africa, as countries seek to move away from a long history of reliance on imported petroleum products.