If the project takes off as expected, Dangote’s proposed Sh2.2 trillion Lamu oil refinery could create a major pipeline of opportunities for Kenya’s construction industry.
The 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery, backed by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, is expected to become Kenya’s largest private-sector investment and could generate about 60,000 jobs across construction, engineering, logistics, manufacturing, energy and other supporting sectors. Groundbreaking is expected in October 2026, with construction expected to follow.
For the construction sector, opportunities could span the entire project lifecycle — from civil and earthworks to structural steel, mechanical installations, piping, electrical systems, storage facilities, roads, utilities and supporting infrastructure.
The project would also require substantial numbers of project and construction managers, quantity surveyors, architects, engineers, planners, procurement specialists, HSE officers, quality-control inspectors, environmental specialists, surveyors, commissioning engineers, and testing and inspection personnel.
The opportunity would extend beyond the project site.
Construction companies and suppliers could see demand for cement, steel, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, pipes, electrical equipment, cables, construction machinery and fabrication services, while transport, accommodation, catering and other support businesses could also benefit.
Dangote Group is expected to remain involved as consultant and contractor, potentially creating opportunities for local contractors, subcontractors, professional firms, suppliers and skilled workers to participate in one of the largest industrial construction projects planned for Kenya.
For Kenya’s construction industry, the Lamu refinery could mean much more than jobs on a construction site — it could open a vast market for contractors, consultants, manufacturers, suppliers and construction professionals across the country.
