The Dangote Group has confirmed that the groundbreaking ceremony for its planned $16 billion oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, will proceed as scheduled on Wednesday, September 30, despite a court order restricting activities on disputed land earmarked for the project. The company said the ruling by the Malindi Environment and Land Court, which preserves the status quo on the affected property until October 14, does not halt the official launch of the multibillion-dollar facility.
Court Order and Company Response
The Malindi Environment and Land Court ordered parties in the land dispute to maintain the existing situation on the property until October 14, when the matter returns to court. However, the court declined to stop the groundbreaking ceremony itself. Reacting to the development, Dangote Group stated: “The court has not halted the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery at this stage.”
The company acknowledged that some activities at the project site could be affected by the order preventing interference with the disputed land pending further proceedings. Aliko Dangote, president of the Dangote Group, said the company was prepared to defend its interests through the legal process, drawing parallels with an earlier dispute involving one of its investments in Senegal. Dangote said the Senegal matter went through the courts before eventually reaching the Supreme Court, where the company prevailed. “Anyone who wants to cause trouble, we’re ready for them,” Dangote said.
Land Dispute and Resident Claims
At the centre of the dispute is a parcel identified as LR No. 13061 in the Hindi/Manda Magogoni area of Lamu County. The case was brought by 133 Chandavai residents who claim interests in the land and say their families have occupied and cultivated portions of it for generations. They are seeking recognition of their rights as well as compensation and resettlement in connection with the project, according to a report by Reuters.
Justice Jane Onyango ordered that the existing situation on the disputed land be preserved until October 14. The residents had sought broader orders to halt further development, including the groundbreaking ceremony, but the court did not grant their request to stop Wednesday’s launch.
Government Support and Project Scope
Kenyan President William Ruto is expected to join Dangote for the groundbreaking ceremony, underlining the government’s backing for the refinery. Preparations were underway in Lamu on Wednesday morning ahead of the ceremony, with senior Kenyan officials arriving at the venue.
The planned refinery will have capacity to process about 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is designed to serve Kenya and the wider East African market. Reuters reported Wednesday that the $16 billion facility is targeted for completion by 2030 and forms a major part of Dangote’s wider African expansion strategy. Regional governments are also being offered stakes in the project.
Despite the court battle, Dangote’s message is clear: the legal dispute may complicate activities on the contested land, but the company is pressing ahead with the refinery’s official launch. Legit.ng earlier reported that Dangote has said the company’s planned refinery in Kenya will surpass its Lagos facility in both size and processing capability, a statement made while hosting Kenyan President William Ruto on a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos.
