Dangote says refinery ready to overcome Kenyan legal hurdles
Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote...Photo Credit: X / Williams Ruto.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has downplayed a Kenyan court order temporarily halting construction activities at the site of his planned multi-billion-dollar oil refinery in Lamu, describing such challenges as routine on the continent. The billionaire said he knows those behind the legal challenges and declared his readiness to confront opponents. Dangote spoke on Tuesday at a high-level investor engagement organised for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery initial public offering with Kenyan and East African institutional investors in Nairobi. His comments came a day after reports emerged that a Kenyan court had ordered that construction activities at the proposed refinery site be put on hold pending further hearing. Recalling how he learnt of the development, Dangote said he saw reports of the court order after landing in Kenya on Monday night. “Yesterday, as I was landing here at night, because I always try to switch off my Wi-Fi on my plane so that I’ll be able to rest. I don’t want to be disturbed. But immediately when I open my phone, they say report by Bloomberg. I’m sure some of you must have seen it. ‘One court has given an order that we shouldn’t do any construction.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google “I said, ‘No, no. This is normal for us in Africa. We don’t care.’” Dangote recalled a similar experience involving one of his projects in Senegal. “We don’t care. In fact, this is even small. In Senegal, it’s not even court. They stopped even our factory for one year. We went up to the Supreme Court to get a judgment. So, anybody who wants to cause trouble, we’re ready for them.” Dangote added, “We’re not bothered. Don’t worry. We know who are the people doing all these things, so we’ll face them.” Africa will largely end fuel imports by 2030 – Dangote Kenyan court halts Dangote refinery work as firm says groundbreaking holds Beyond Dangote IPO: What happens when the promise is tested A Kenyan court had directed that the status quo be maintained at the proposed refinery site following a petition by some farmers and residents of Chandavai in Lamu County, who alleged forceful eviction and destruction of their properties. According to a Bloomberg report, the Malindi Environment and Land Court ordered that the status quo prevailing at the site be maintained, with further directions scheduled for Oct. 14. The petitioners also alleged that the project had not complied with environmental and public participation requirements. However, Dangote Group said in a statement on Tuesday that the court order had not halted the planned groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery, although activities at the site could be affected pending the hearing. The proposed refinery is scheduled for groundbreaking on Wednesday. Dangote Group is expected to hold a 70 per cent stake in the project, with regional governments, including Kenya and Rwanda, holding the remainder. The project is designed to serve the East African market, while the Dangote Group continues efforts to expand its refining business. Meanwhile, The PUNCH had reported that Kenyan President William Ruto said his government was fast-tracking administrative processes for the proposed refinery. Ruto spoke on Friday during a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, ahead of the September 30 groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya. The Kenyan President said his government had already secured the land for the project and is working on other requirements to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure that construction and subsequent operations are not delayed. Saheed Oyelakin Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!
Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.
