After years of building delays, Nigeria’s Dangote oil refinery has begun producing diesel and aviation fuel at its 650,000 barrel per day (bpd) capacity.
Aliko Dangote funded the $20 billion construction of Africa’s largest refinery on a peninsula on the outskirts of the commercial metropolis Lagos.
Despite being Africa’s leading energy producer, Nigeria imports the majority of its fuel.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, elatedly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and encouragement towards the actualisation of this project. pic.twitter.com/w8bhMIUDJ2— Dangote Group (@DangoteGroup) January 13, 2024
The Dangote refinery is projected to not only make the country self-sufficient but also allow it to export fuel to surrounding West African countries — potentially altering the Atlantic Basin oil trade scene.
In a social media post, published on Dangote’s 𝕏 account, the company stated: “The refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.
“The products from the Refinery will conform to Euro V specifications [and] the refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and DPR emission/effluent norms.”
Prior to production, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals plant purchased one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) — one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria, as well as globally, trading over eight million barrels of crude oil per day.
This supply will facilitate the initial run of the refinery as well as kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Dangote Refinery has a self-sufficient marine facility with the ability to handle the largest vessel globally available.