Editor's Review

The vessel was received by the Kenya Ports Authority chief executive officer, Captain William Ruto.

The Port of Lamu received its first vessel linked to the KSh 2 trillion Dangote East Africa Refinery project Saturday evening, September 26.

The MV Da Yang arrived carrying 2,930 metric tonnes of heavy construction machinery.

The vessel's docking sets the stage for the groundbreaking ceremony of the refinery, scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, marking a pivotal moment in what is projected to be a transformative infrastructure undertaking for Kenya and the wider region.

Kenya Ports Authority PLC chief executive officer, Captain William Ruto, presided over the arrival of the maiden vessel, overseeing its berthing before presenting a certificate of first call and a commemorative plaque to the vessel's master, Captain Wang Shengli.

Captain Ruto described the docking as a significant milestone, linking it directly to the government's determination to see the refinery through to completion.

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"The arrival of this vessel is very critical and shows the government's commitment to ensuring this project succeeds. It will be a game changer for the entire region," Captain Ruto said.

He also assured regional shipping partners and logistics customers that Lamu Port is fully equipped to manage both current and anticipated cargo volumes, pledging efficient vessel turnaround, seamless cargo handling, and service delivery aligned with international standards.

MV Da Yang arrived carrying 2,930 metric tonnes of heavy construction machinery.

The arrival of MV Da Yang came one day after President William Ruto toured the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria, at the invitation of Dangote Group President and CEO Aliko Dangote.

The visit was part of preparations ahead of the Lamu groundbreaking ceremony.

During the tour, President Ruto noted that the Nigerian facility refines 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily and produces more than 100 million litres of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel every day, adding that the company has laid 120 kilometres of undersea cables to transport crude from ships to the plant.

"This huge achievement is a testament to what African governments, investors and financial institutions can do together," the president said.

He indicated that the refinery to be built in Lamu will surpass its Nigerian counterpart in scale. 

The plant is designed to process crude oil drawn from Lokichar in Turkana County, as well as from other parts of East and southern Africa, before distributing refined petroleum products across regional markets.

President Ruto said the project is expected to generate 60,000 jobs upon completion, enhance fuel security, and accelerate industrialisation.

Spin-off industries, including fertiliser production, chemicals manufacturing, and packaging, are also anticipated to emerge once the facility is operational.

The Port of Lamu is set to play a central role in the project's long-term success by supporting marine logistics and handling petroleum tankers throughout the refinery's operational life.