Rwanda: Kagame Says Rwanda Considering Investment in Dangote-Backed Oil Refinery

What the report says

Rwanda says it is open to taking part in a proposed East African oil refinery linked to Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote, according to The New Times, which reported remarks by President Paul Kagame in Kigali on Monday. Kagame said any discussion is still at an early stage, but indicated that Rwanda would welcome participation in the project if it moves forward.

The reported refinery is planned for Lamu on Kenya’s coast and is being discussed as a major regional energy investment. According to the article, recent media reports suggested Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda had been offered a combined 30% stake in the project, with the broader regional investment estimated at about $1.5 billion. The refinery itself has been described as a $16 billion venture, with related petrochemical and port infrastructure potentially lifting the total to around $20 billion.

The project is expected to be large by African standards, with a proposed processing capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day. The New Times said construction could take three to five years and that groundbreaking is planned for September, though those plans remain subject to development.

If completed, the refinery would add to Dangote’s growing footprint in Africa’s downstream fuel sector and could help reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products. More broadly, the proposal reflects continued efforts by African governments and investors to process more of the continent’s oil and gas resources locally.