A Malindi Environment and Land Court has ordered that the status quo be maintained at the site of the proposed Dangote refinery in Lamu County until a hearing on October 14, after 133 local residents sued the government and Dangote Industries over the project.
The order, dated September 25 and made public on September 28, bars both sides from carrying out activities on the land while the dispute is pending, Reuters reported. The plaintiffs, from the Chandavai area where the plant is to be sited, have named the office of President William Ruto, relevant government agencies and Dangote Industries in their suit, according to Citizen Digital.
Dangote Group said the court ruling on the land rights claim “has not halted the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery at this stage,” but acknowledged that on-site activities may be affected by the injunction.
The Lamu facility, planned to process 700,000 barrels per day, is projected to cost between $15 billion and $16 billion. Dangote has said he hopes to complete the refinery by 2030 and to source crude from across East Africa, including Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya, to reduce the region’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
The groundbreaking had been scheduled for Wednesday, September 30. The company has described the project as part of efforts to boost fuel supply and promote regional energy self-reliance.
