Dangote Refinery is gearing up for the commencement of production as it recently received its fourth crude shipment, consisting of one million barrels of bonny light crude, supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC). The petrochemical company is now anticipating the arrival of its fifth crude shipment.
This latest delivery is part of the six million barrels of crude expected by the world’s largest single-train refinery, and it follows the three million barrels of crude received earlier. Akin Omole, the Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, revealed that the refinery is set to receive a total of about four million barrels of crude before the end of 2023, with the remaining two million expected in early January 2024.
The company emphasized that the successful delivery of the six million barrels will position the refinery to commence operations. The initial run of the refinery will kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG before progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Dangote Petroleum Refinery, designed for 100% Nigerian crude with flexibility to process other crudes, boasts a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It can handle a variety of African crude grades, Middle Eastern Arab Light, US Light tight oil, and crude from other countries. The refinery is expected to meet 100% of Nigeria’s refined product requirements, including gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, with a surplus for export.
The facility is equipped with self-sufficient marine capabilities, featuring two Single Point Moorings (SPMs) located 25 kilometers from the shore for crude intake and three separate SPMs for discharging petroleum products. Additionally, the refinery can load 2,900 trucks daily at its truck-loading gantries, and all products will adhere to Euro V specifications.
During the receipt of the first consignment, Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, expressed delight, highlighting the significance of the milestone for the country. He emphasized the company’s commitment to ramping up the refinery to its full capacity and delivering the first batch of products to the Nigerian market in the coming months.
