President William Ruto don land Lagos for one tour of billionaire Aliko Dangote mega oil refinery, some days before Kenya proposed East Africa Refinery for Lamu go break ground.
First Lady Rachel Ruto and senior government officials dey with the President. Im visit to Dangote Petroleum Refinery for Lekki come five days before e go lead groundbreaking ceremony for proposed East Africa Refinery for Lamu on September 30.
The planned Lamu facility, with projected capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day, expected to become major part of Kenya strategy to expand refining capacity and strengthen petroleum supply for di region.
Di Lagos visit come after Ruto meet Dangote and Africa Finance Corporation chief executive Samaila Zubairu for sidelines of United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, for New York earlier dis week. Di discussions focus on financing and final preparations for di Lamu project.
Ruto tok after di New York meeting say, ‘We ready to break ground on di East Africa refinery in Lamu, a transformative project wey go enhance di region energy security, deepen local value addition, create jobs and advance our industrialisation agenda.’
Di proposed refinery expected to process crude from Kenya oilfields for Lokichar, Turkana County, and supply refined petroleum products to markets for East and Central Africa.
Di project dey developed with Dangote involvement and support from Africa Finance Corporation. Current reports put im investment value between $15 billion and $17 billion, wey be roughly Sh2 trillion at prevailing exchange rates.
Di September 30 groundbreaking expected to bring together regional leaders and other key stakeholders, with preparations already under way for Lamu.
Di Lagos refinery tour give Ruto chance to inspect Dangote existing refining operation before di Kenyan project move into construction phase.
When e reach di refinery, Ruto take guided tour of di sprawling facility by Dangote and other senior company officials.
Di tour cover key sections of di refinery and di adjoining petrochemicals complex, giving di President overview of di plant operations, processing capacity and infrastructure.
Di officials also brief him on di various stages of di refining process and di facility wider role in meeting di region energy and petrochemical needs.
Di Dangote Petroleum Refinery, also located for Lagos, get capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day and don become one of di continent largest refining facilities.
Di project initially earmarked for Tanzania before Dangote Group shift am to Kenya, citing infrastructure, logistics and market considerations.
From Lagos, Ruto expected to return to Kenya and begin weeklong working tour of di Coast region on Saturday.
Di tour go cover Taita-Taveta, Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Tana River and Lamu counties and e go focus on development projects, land reforms and new investments.
Major feature of di tour go be issuance of nearly 200,000 title deeds to residents across di six counties, as Government seek to address longstanding land ownership challenges for di region.
Ruto go begin di Coast tour for Taita-Taveta, where 31,318 title deeds scheduled to be issued to residents of Mwatate and Voi constituencies.
He go proceed to Kwale on Monday, where 94,175 title deeds expected to be issued for Lunga Lunga, Msambweni and Kinango constituencies.
For Kilifi, 36,826 title deeds lined up for beneficiaries for Kaloleni, Rabai, Ganze, Kilifi South and Malindi constituencies.
Mombasa set to receive 4,360 title deeds, while anoda 22,770 documents go be distributed for Lamu and Tana River.
Government tok say di documents go provide beneficiaries with formal ownership of dia land and enable dem to use di property for economic activities.
Ruto also expected to commission completed projects, inspect ongoing works and launch new developments during di tour.
Di Lamu refinery groundbreaking expected to be di centrepiece of di visit, placing di Coast region at centre of Government energy and industrialisation agenda.
Di project also dey presented as potential driver of employment and regional trade, with di refinery expected to support petroleum supply chains serving markets beyond Kenya.
