President Paul Kagame confirmed in Kigali that his government is in early talks to take a stake in Aliko Dangote’s proposed $17 billion refinery in Lamu, Kenya.
“Rwanda would be very happy to be part of that kind of investment,” Kagame said, calling the discussions work in progress.
The Lamu plant is planned for 700,000 barrels per day, matching Dangote’s Lagos mega-refinery that ended Nigeria’s fuel imports. Including port and petrochemical works, total cost could hit $20 billion.
The offer is regional. Dangote has offered East African governments a combined 30 percent stake, worth about $1.5 billion.
Kenya would take 10 percent for $500 million, according to President William Ruto’s economic adviser David Ndii. Ethiopia has also shown interest.
For Rwanda, a landlocked country that imports all its fuel through Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, the move is strategic.The timing is tight.
Tanzania is courting Uganda for a rival hub in Tanga, with a pipeline, storage and refinery plan signed on August 6th.
Lamu sits on the LAPSSET Corridor with a deep 18-meter harbour that can take supertankers Mombasa cannot.
If built, it would process Kenyan and Ugandan crude and supply Rwanda, South Sudan, DRC and beyond.Groundbreaking is set for late 2026.
