Dangote proceeds with refinery, despite court ruling

The Dangote Group said a Kenyan court ruling over a disputed parcel of land will not stop the groundbreaking ceremony for its planned $16bn, 700 000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lamu, although some activities at the site could be affected, reports Business Insider. The case was brought by 133 residents of Chandavai in Lamu County, who say the land is ancestral property that their families have occupied, farmed and developed for generations. They claim the area includes homes, farms, livestock areas, mosques, shrines and family graves. The Malindi Environment and Land Court ordered parties to maintain the existing status quo on the disputed land until 14 October, when the case will be heard. Dangote said the court order requires both sides not to undertake activities that could alter the situation on the disputed land before the October hearing, potentially affecting some site work. The Lamu refinery is a major expansion of Dangote’s refining ambitions beyond Nigeria. The project is expected to serve Kenya and wider regional markets. Dangote is offering East African countries a combined 30% equity stake in the planned refinery, according to David Ndii, economic adviser to Kenyan President William Ruto.

Full report on the Business Insider site