Engineers India lands $450-million Dangote deal for mega Kenya refinery

A new refinery on Africa’s eastern flank is set to deepen India's engineering partnership that began with one of the continent’s biggest energy projects, with state-run Engineers India Limited securing a major contract from Nigeria’s Dangote Group.

Engineers India Limited (EIL) has signed a contract worth more than $450 million to work as project management and engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) consultant for Dangote Group’s planned 7,00,000-barrel-per-day greenfield refinery and petrochemical plant in Kenya, PTI reported on September 22.

The contract marks EIL’s second major assignment with the Lagos-based conglomerate. The Indian engineering consultancy had earlier worked as a consultant on Dangote’s 6,50,000-bpd refinery at the Lekki Free Zone in Nigeria.


The Lekki facility is currently the world’s largest single-train refinery. EIL is also involved in its ongoing expansion, which will take its capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day, the company said.

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The latest award gives EIL a role across the Kenyan project’s lifecycle, from the initial concept stage through commissioning. Unlike the Lekki assignment, the Kenyan facility will be developed as a greenfield project.

Dangote Group, one of West Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates, has operations across 17 African countries. The group is expanding its presence in East Africa through the Kenyan refinery as it looks to handle a wider range of crude and strengthen its regional presence.

Its businesses extend beyond oil and gas to sectors including mining, cement, fertilisers and food.

The Kenya project is expected to reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined fuel while strengthening regional energy security. It is also intended to generate additional refined-product volumes for export to international markets.

The contract adds to EIL’s growing international profile in engineering and technical services for the energy sector. Its involvement in the Lekki refinery has provided experience of executing a large and complex refining project overseas.

The Nigerian facility produces Euro V-grade gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and polypropylene. Its ongoing expansion is expected to further increase its scale.

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For EIL, the Kenyan award strengthens its credentials in delivering large-scale energy infrastructure outside India. The company’s international experience could also support its efforts to pursue more overseas projects as refining capacity increasingly shifts towards Africa and Asia.

The contract also highlights the expanding role of Indian engineering and technical-services companies in Africa’s energy infrastructure, while strengthening commercial ties between India and Dangote Group.

No timeline for completion or commencement of operations at the Kenyan refinery has been disclosed.