The Dangote Oil Refinery, Africa’s largest and most advanced refining facility, is set to achieve full operational capacity within the next 30 days, according to its executive director, Edwin Devakumar.
The 650,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) facility, built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, began processing diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January last year and started refining petrol in September. Though the refinery aims to compete with European refiners, securing adequate crude supply locally has been a major challenge.
Despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in naira, the refinery struggled to source sufficient feedstock and had to import crude oil in 2023 to sustain operations. To address this, the Nigerian oil regulator has mandated oil producers to supply 550,000 bpd to local refineries between January and June 2024. Additionally, the regulator has announced that export permits will be withheld for oil producers who fail to meet their supply obligations to domestic refineries.
Devakumar confirmed that the refinery is set to reach 100% production capacity within a month.
Beyond meeting Nigeria’s domestic fuel demands, Dangote Oil Refinery is aggressively pursuing international markets.
Aliko Dangote recently revealed plans to expand exports, announcing that the refinery has already dispatched two shipments of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco as part of its broader global strategy. “We are looking at all the markets right now,” said Devakumar, emphasizing the refinery’s commitment to positioning itself as a key player in the global energy sector.
With full operations imminent and an expanding global footprint, Dangote Oil Refinery is set to transform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, reduce fuel imports, and establish itself as a major player in the international energy market.
