Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has selected Honeywell Technologies to provide engineering services, licensing, process technologies and equipment for its planned $16 billion, 700,000 barrels per day refinery in Lamu, Kenya, according to CNBC Africa. The agreement was announced on September 30 as Dangote and President William Ruto formally broke ground on the East Africa refinery, which is expected to supply petrol, diesel and jet fuel to Kenya and neighbouring markets. Honeywell will also provide proprietary catalysts and digital solutions, drawing on its experience with Dangote’s refinery in Lagos.
The partnership extends nearly a decade of collaboration between Honeywell and Dangote and is designed to accelerate development of the Kenyan facility. Honeywell said its proven large scale engineering designs can reduce the project development schedule by nearly two years compared with a typical new refinery. The company’s scope is expected to be worth approximately $300 million and will include technology capable of processing a broad range of crude oils, from light to heavy grades. The refinery is expected to produce gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and polypropylene, giving the project a significant petrochemical component alongside its fuel production capacity.
The technology agreement adds another major international partner to a project that is positioning Lamu as a future energy and industrial hub for East Africa. Dangote has separately awarded Engineers India Limited an engineering contract worth about $450 million, while regional governments have been offered a combined 30% stake in the refinery. Once operational, the facility is expected to serve Kenya and export refined products across the region, potentially reducing East Africa’s dependence on imported petroleum products. Its development nevertheless comes amid legal challenges over land rights and environmental concerns, with Kenya’s High Court ordering the preservation of disputed areas while proceedings continue.
