President William Ruto says the government plans to employ about 60,000 Kenyans to work on the multi-billion-shilling oil refinery in Lamu, set to be constructed by Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Speaking on Friday, July 10, during the rollout of the second tranche of the Nyota programme, Ruto said the 60,000 job opportunities would be reserved for youths who would help in the construction and operations of the refinery.

“As you all know, Kenya is set to construct an East African refinery here in Lamu, and we will need 60,000 youths to do that job,” the Head of State said.

Ruto said he had already held discussions with Dangote over the project, adding that the refinery would not only serve Kenya but also supply petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

📌 What You Need to Know

According to the President, among the countries set to directly benefit from the refinery are Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I have talked to businessman Aliko Dangote, and we have agreed with him that the refinery, which belongs to Kenya alone, will also serve Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC,” he added.

Ruto’s remarks come days after Dangote selected Lamu as the preferred location for a planned 700,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery, in a move expected to position Kenya as a major player in the fuel industry.

The proposed refinery, estimated to cost up to Ksh2.2 trillion, will become one of the largest industrial investments in Kenya’s history and is expected to reduce the region’s reliance on imported refined fuel.

The facility is expected to replicate Dangote’s massive refinery outside Lagos, Nigeria , which is among the largest single-train refineries in the world.

Dangote Industries Vice President for Oil and Gas Edwin Devakumar said the site for the Kenyan refinery had already been selected, with soil testing underway and design and engineering work in progress.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke