Towards bolstering Nigeria’s energy refining capabilities, Dangote Refinery has received its third one-million-barrel crude oil shipment, this time from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO).
The Wednesday delivery reinforces the facility’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s energy security.
The current cargo, now totaling three million barrels at the Single-Point Mooring facility, sets the stage for the imminent arrival of a fourth crude shipment. Dangote Refinery, gearing up for operations at 350,000 barrels per day (bpd), is set to commence production of diesel and aviation fuel in mid-January 2024, with Premium Motor Spirit production to follow.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery aims to meet 100% of Nigeria’s refined product requirements, encompassing gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel. Moreover, the refinery anticipates generating a surplus of each product for potential export.
Earlier this month, the $20 billion refinery marked its initiation of crude supplies with a 950,000-barrel cargo from Nigeria’s Agbami crude, received at Dangote’s offshore crude receiving terminal in Lekki on December 7. This marked a crucial milestone for the state-of-the-art refinery as it prepared for full-scale production.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), holding a 20% stake in the refinery, has entered an agreement to supply 6 million barrels of crude oil as feedstock to jumpstart Dangote refinery operations. Aliko Dangote, the owner, affirmed that the refinery is on track to achieve a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day by the end of 2024.
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Emphasizing the refinery’s commitment to Nigeria, Dangote stated that the initial focus is on supplying petrol to the country before exploring export opportunities, including those within the West African region.
As the refinery inches closer to full-scale production, it stands as a beacon for Nigeria’s energy independence and a key player in the global refining landscape.
