In a monumental stride towards fortifying Nigeria’s domestic refining capabilities and achieving energy autonomy, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals plant has procured a substantial one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO), a prominent player in Nigeria’s oil trading arena.
The delivered cargo, sourced from Agbami, smoothly navigated to Dangote Refinery’s Single Point Mooring (SPM), initiating the infusion into the refinery’s crude oil reservoirs.
The initial tranche of one million barrels, constituting the primary phase of the designated six million barrels to be furnished by diverse suppliers, is instrumental in sustaining the initial 350,000 barrels per day slated for processing.
Subsequent shipments, orchestrated by the NNPC and culminating with ExxonMobil, will seamlessly propel the refinery into operation.
This supply chain orchestration ensures the commencement of diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG production before culminating in the synthesis of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
This pivotal development holds the promise of mitigating fuel supply constraints not only in Nigeria but across West African nations.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery, tailored for 100 percent Nigerian crude, exhibits adaptability to process a spectrum of African and international crude grades, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone in regional energy security.
With a daily processing capacity of 650,000 barrels, Dangote Petroleum Refinery aspires to meet the entirety of Nigeria’s refined product needs, encompassing gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel.
Its surplus production capacity positions it as a potential exporter of these vital products.
The refinery’s infrastructure dominance is evident through its two SPMs, strategically located 25 kilometers from the shore.
Alongside its capability to discharge products through three separate SPMs, the facility boasts the capacity to load an impressive 2,900 trucks daily at its truck loading gantries.
Furthermore, Dangote Refinery’s marine facility, equipped to handle the largest vessels globally, ensures seamless operations.
In line with international standards, all products emanating from the refinery adhere to Euro V specifications.
It is meticulously designed to comply with stringent regulations, including those set forth by the US EPA, European emission norms, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms, and African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards.
Expressing his satisfaction, Mr. Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, asserted, “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.
Our focus over the coming months is to ramp up the refinery to its full capacity. I look forward to the next significant milestone when we deliver the first batch of products to the Nigerian market.”
Commending the refinery’s startup, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, emphasized, “We welcome the startup of a refinery that is designed to produce gasoline, diesel, and low-sulphur fuels for Nigeria and across West Africa and are happy to be enabling it.”
