https://en.sputniknews.africa/20261009/kenyas-refinery-project-and-quest-for-africas-energy-sovereignty-1089781663.html
Kenya’s Refinery Project and Quest for Africa's Energy Sovereignty
Kenya’s Refinery Project and Quest for Africa's Energy Sovereignty
Sputnik Africa
A planned $16 billion, 700,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya, could sharply expand East Africa’s fuel-processing capacity, challenging the region’s long... 09.10.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-10-09T17:00+0200
2026-10-09T17:00+0200
2026-10-09T17:00+0200
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Kenya’s Refinery Project and Quest for Africa's Energy Sovereignty
Sputnik Africa
A planned $16 billion, 700,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya, could sharply expand East Africa’s fuel-processing capacity, challenging the region’s long reliance on imported refined petroleum even as Africa exports crude oil.
Kenya has operated without an active crude-oil refinery since its Mombasa facility stopped processing crude in 2013, leaving the country heavily dependent on imported petroleum products. In the financial year ended June 2025, Kenya imported about 9.76 million cubic meters of petroleum products, according to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. If completed as planned, the Lamu refinery could restore large-scale domestic processing, retain more value within the petroleum supply chain, and strengthen Kenya’s role in the East African energy market.Kenya's Sisano Energy CEO Peter Onasis Ochieng’ told African Currents that the proposed Lamu refinery could strengthen East Africa’s energy security by cutting reliance on imported fuels and reducing exposure to global supply disruptions. He added that regional investment, pipeline infrastructure, and competitive regulation would be crucial to its success.For the full perspective and further insights from our guest, tune in to this episode of African Currents, a podcast by Sputnik Africa.Don’t miss an episode — beyond our website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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Kenya’s Refinery Project and Quest for Africa's Energy Sovereignty
A planned $16 billion, 700,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Lamu, Kenya, could sharply expand East Africa’s fuel-processing capacity, challenging the region’s long reliance on imported refined petroleum even as Africa exports crude oil.
Kenya has operated without an active crude-oil refinery since its Mombasa facility stopped processing crude in 2013, leaving the country heavily dependent on imported petroleum products. In the financial year ended June 2025, Kenya imported about 9.76 million cubic meters of petroleum products, according to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority. If completed as planned, the Lamu refinery could restore large-scale domestic processing, retain more value within the petroleum supply chain, and strengthen Kenya’s role in the East African energy market.
Kenya's Sisano Energy CEO Peter Onasis Ochieng’ told African Currents that the proposed Lamu refinery could strengthen East Africa’s energy security by cutting reliance on imported fuels and reducing exposure to global supply disruptions. He added that regional investment, pipeline infrastructure, and competitive regulation would be crucial to its success.
"If the refinery is constructed and commissioned, I trust we would have solved the challenge of not solving 100 percent but drastically reducing the risk involved in terms of supply chains that are associated with geopolitical reasons that happen most of the time outside the African continent and more specifically Eastern Central Africa. So that we will deal with it. In terms of pricing, I think as a continent, we must appreciate that the world is a global village. And one of the industries that operates globally is oil and gas [...]. For this refinery to have the best impact, and the best impact I mean to end up reducing the cost of energy and fuel in the region, it needs all the East and Central African states to participate [...]. If we work together and make this succeed, then this will prove to other local entrepreneurs in Africa that it's possible to invest in Africa and, first of all, change lives, change the country, and change economies, and that will be a big, big boost for us," Ochieng’ noted.
For the full perspective and further insights from our guest, tune in to this episode of African Currents, a podcast by Sputnik Africa.
Don’t miss an episode — beyond our website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
