NIGERIA – Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) integrated refinery and petrochemical project has commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel.
The refinery, Africa’s largest, was built on a peninsula on the outskirts of the commercial capital Lagos for US$20 billion. The facility sits on 2,635 hectares (6,500 acres) of land at the Lekki Free Zone on the edge of Lagos City.
“This is a big day for Nigeria. We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone. This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects. This is a game changer for our country, and I am very fulfilled with the actualization of this project,” the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said.
Aliko Dangote has also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, encouragement, and thoughtful advice toward the actualization of this project.
“We thank President Bola Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true. This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to detail. His intervention at various stages cleared all impediments thereby accelerating the actualization of the project,” he said.
Dangote thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Nigerians for their support and belief in the historic project.
“We also thank Nigerians for their belief and support in this project. We have started the production of diesel and aviation fuel, and the products will be in the market within this month once we receive regulatory approvals,” he added.
A month after it received the first batch of 1 million barrels of crude oil, the Dangote Refinery has received its sixth similar consignment, marking the target needed to commence operations by the world’s largest single-train refinery.
In early December, the refinery received the first one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO).
Since then, Dangote Refinery has been receiving, in batches, one million barrels of crude oil. The sixth batch was supplied to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The Refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries. Designed for 100% Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes, the refinery can process most African crude grades, Middle Eastern Arab Light, US Light tight oil, and crude from other countries.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100% of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jets, and also has a surplus for export.
Although Nigeria is Africa’s top energy producer, it has relied on imports for most of the fuel it consumes because of a lack of refining capacity.
The Dangote refinery is expected to not only make it self-sufficient but also allow it to export fuel to neighboring West African countries, potentially transforming oil trading in the Atlantic Basin.
Meanwhile, The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) comprising its seven members has met with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to purchase and distribute refined petroleum products from the refinery.
Upon finalization of the commercial terms with Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) members will initiate nationwide fuel distribution.
The MOMAN members poised to distribute petroleum products from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery include 11 Plc, Conoil Plc, Ardova Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, OVH Energy Marketing Limited, Total Nigeria Plc, and NNPC Retail.
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