- MV Great Prosperity docked at the Port of Lamu on October 21, offloading 154 units of heavy construction machinery weighing 8,213 metric tonnes
- The Kenya Ports Authority confirmed the delivery and said additional equipment vessels are scheduled to arrive through Lamu over the coming months
- The shipment follows the September 30 groundbreaking of the KSh 2.2 trillion refinery project, which is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day
A second major shipment of heavy construction equipment destined for the Dangote East Africa Refinery has been discharged at the Port of Lamu, weeks after the project's official groundbreaking ceremony.
The vessel MV Great Prosperity berthed on Wednesday, October 21, and offloaded 154 units of specialised machinery with a combined weight of 8,213 metric tonnes.
The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) confirmed the delivery in a statement, describing it as a signal of accelerating momentum behind the project.
"MV Great Prosperity today completed the discharge of 154 heavy machinery units, including articulated dump trucks and assorted specialized hardware totalling 8,213 metric tons," KPA said.
Equipment Unloaded at Lamu Port
Images from the port yard capture the scope of the delivery.
XCMG XLC75 crawler cranes bearing the Dangote logo are lined up on wide steel tracks, fitted with red pulley blocks and lattice booms.
Orange XCMG XDA45 articulated dump trucks with large off-road tyres, several still in protective wrapping, are parked alongside them.
The yard also contains yellow XCMG excavators, single-drum road rollers, motor graders, Dangote-branded tanker trucks, prime movers and flatbed trailers.
KPA indicated that the consignment is part of a broader and sustained flow of cargo expected through Lamu as construction accelerates.
"Additional fleets carrying heavy equipment are scheduled to arrive through the Port of Lamu over the coming months to sustain ongoing construction," the authority said.
Lamu's Role as an Energy Gateway
Beyond the construction phase, KPA said the refinery would generate regular maritime traffic at the port long after it is operational, with crude oil carriers and cargo ships expected to call at Lamu routinely once production begins.
"The refinery's construction is also expected to drive a continuous stream of crude oil carriers and cargo ships to the Port of Lamu, further transforming the facility into a busy energy and logistics gateway," KPA said.
The authority added that increased port activity would help activate the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor for broader regional trade.
President William Ruto and Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote presided over the groundbreaking on September 30.
The project is valued at KSh 2.2 trillion and is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Ruto said it would create more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs, and Dangote has indicated construction will take approximately 40 months to complete.
The refinery is designed to supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and several neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lamu was selected over Tanga in Tanzania due to its deeper waters and ground conditions capable of supporting heavy infrastructure.
The groundbreaking proceeded despite earlier protests from Lamu residents over land compensation for more than 7,000 acres.
Ruto would later direct his deputy Kithure Kindiki to chair a government coordinating committee, assuring residents their concerns would be addressed fairly and within the law.
Source: TUKO.co.ke