NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct. 3 -- EAST Africa can accommodate several petroleum refineries as demand for refined products continues to grow across the region, Kenyan President William Ruto has said.

President Ruto said refinery projects being developed by individual East African countries should be viewed as opportunities to strengthen regional trade and energy security rather than as competing investments.

He said the region would require additional refining capacity even after the proposed Aliko Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery in Lamu becomes operational, arguing that the regional market would be large enough to support several refineries.

Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lamu refinery, President Ruto said Kenya wou...