Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has selected US-based Honeywell Technologies to provide engineering services, technology licensing and equipment for a planned 700,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Kenya, marking another major expansion of Dangote’s energy interests across Africa.
Honeywell Technologies announced the partnership on Wednesday, saying its involvement would cover key engineering and technology requirements for the proposed refinery in Lamu County.
The $16 billion project was formally launched with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Dangote and Kenyan President William Ruto. The development, however, has faced opposition from conservationists and affected landowners, who have challenged its construction in court.
The planned refinery is expected to produce petroleum products including diesel, petrol and aviation fuel for Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, while also serving markets in other countries across the region.
Honeywell’s involvement builds on its existing relationship with the Dangote Group. The US technology company is already working with Dangote at his refinery in Nigeria, where it is providing support for upgrades aimed at doubling the facility’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day.
Rajesh Gattupalli, President of Honeywell Technologies UOP, said the experience gained from working with Dangote would be useful in delivering the Kenyan project.
“Through our long-standing relationship with Dangote, we have developed proven large-train engineering designs that can be applied to the Kenya refinery to significantly reduce time-to-market,” Gattupalli said in a statement.
The Kenya project represents a significant addition to the country’s energy infrastructure ambitions, with the proposed facility expected to strengthen domestic fuel supply while creating capacity for exports to neighbouring markets.
The refinery’s planned location in Lamu County has nevertheless generated controversy. Conservation groups and some landowners have raised concerns over the potential environmental and social impact of the project and have taken legal steps to challenge its construction.
For Dangote, the planned Kenyan refinery would extend the businessman’s involvement in large-scale refining beyond Nigeria and further into the African energy market.
The project also comes as the Dangote refinery in Nigeria undergoes expansion plans that are expected to increase its capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day, potentially making it one of the largest refining facilities on the continent.
If completed as planned, the Kenyan facility would supply diesel, petrol and jet fuel to the domestic market while providing refined petroleum products for wider distribution across East Africa.