Court Stops Dangote Refinery Over Fresh Dispute

A Kenyan court has ordered a halt to activities at the site of Dangote’s proposed $16bn oil refinery in Lamu County following a dispute over land ownership and claims by residents that their properties were destroyed, as reported by the Nigerian Tribune.

The Malindi Environment and Land Court directed the parties to maintain “the status quo prevailing” pending further hearing of the case.

The case was brought by farmers and residents of Chandavai in Lamu County, who opposed the refinery project and alleged that they were forcibly removed from their land and that their properties were destroyed.

According to a Bloomberg report, Judge Jane Onyango issued the order on September 25, with the court expected to give further directions on October 14.

George Wakahiu, a lawyer representing the petitioners, told Bloomberg that the ruling means construction activities at the project site should not begin before the October 14 hearing.

The petitioners said the project involved “forceful eviction of the plaintiffs from their lands, damage and destruction of their properties and yet there is no resettlement plan for them.”

They also argued that Dangote and the Kenyan authorities had not complied with Kenya’s environmental laws, which require “a mandatory environmental impact assessment be done before the implementation of any major project.”

The petitioners further claimed that the project did not comply with Kenya’s constitution, “which requires that the necessary public participation” be conducted.

However, Dangote Group said the court had not stopped the planned groundbreaking ceremony for the refinery.

In a statement reported by Reuters, the company said activities at the proposed refinery site could be affected by the court order pending the October 14 hearing.

“The court has not halted the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery at this stage. However, activities at the site may be affected by the ruling, as both parties are required not to carry out activities until the case is heard on 14th October,” the statement read.

The proposed refinery is planned for Lamu County and is expected to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.

Kenyan President William Ruto had earlier said his government was fast-tracking administrative processes for the project to prevent delays in its construction and operation.

Ruto made the statement during a visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, ahead of the planned September 30 groundbreaking ceremony in Kenya.

He said the Kenyan government had secured the land for the project and was working on other requirements to remove bureaucratic delays.

Ruto described the refinery as a regional project that would support industrial activities in East Africa, create jobs and improve technical skills in the region.

Dangote Group founder Aliko Dangote had also said the proposed Kenyan refinery would be bigger than the existing Dangote refinery in Nigeria.