South Sudan joins Kenya in launch of 16-billion-dollar refinery project

South Sudan has joined Kenya and other regional partners in the groundbreaking of a 16-billion-dollar refinery in Lamu, in a project expected to transform the region’s petroleum industry.

Caretaker Minister of Petroleum Awow Daniel Chuang represented President Salva Kiir at the ceremony.

He was joined by South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Simon Juach Deng, and other government officials.

The planned refinery is expected to process up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day once completed.

The project is also expected to create jobs and support industries including chemicals, fertilizers and manufacturing.

For South Sudan, the project could have wider regional importance.

As an oil-producing but landlocked country, South Sudan is seeking stronger transport and economic links to regional markets and the Indian Ocean.

The refinery is part of the wider LAPSSET corridor, which links Kenya’s Lamu Port with parts of East and Central Africa.

South Sudan was among the countries involved in the original LAPSSET vision launched in 2012.

The refinery is expected to become operational around 2030.