Dangote Industries is considering a 1,000-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Lamu, Kenya, as part of its planned oil refinery project.

The proposed facility is being discussed with the Kenyan government, which is seeking to increase the power generation capacity attached to the refinery to help address electricity shortages and provide reliable power for industrial activities.

The plant would run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplied from Tanzania. The two sides are expected to examine options including transporting the gas by pipeline or using tankers to deliver it to a receiving terminal at the Lamu refinery site.

If completed, the power project would operate alongside the refinery and form part of a wider industrial and energy hub in Lamu. It could also provide a steady source of electricity to complement Kenya’s growing wind and solar generation.

However, the project still requires agreements covering gas supply, financing, electricity purchases and environmental approvals.

The development comes as Dangote prepares to begin construction of the Lamu refinery, with the groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for September 30.

The refinery is expected to supply petroleum products to markets across East Africa, with regional crude supply estimated at more than 600,000 barrels per day from South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.

Kenya has been seeking additional sources of reliable electricity to reduce its dependence on hydropower, particularly when drought affects water levels. A large gas-fired plant could therefore provide dependable power for industrial operations and other users.

If developed as planned, the 1,000MW facility would rank among the largest gas-to-power projects in East Africa.