Dangote Refinery to Start Producing Diesel, Jet Fuel in January

After receiving its first crude oil shipment, Africa’s largest oil refinery operated by the Dangote Group plans to begin production of diesel and aviation fuel by January 2024.

The refinery will require 5 additional 1 million barrel shipments over the coming weeks before it can maximize output of gasoline and other petrol products.

The 650,000 barrel-per-day capacity refinery had aimed to start operations in 2022 after multiple delays but has faced challenges securing sufficient crude supply from Nigerian authorities to support full-scale refining.

Last week’s arrival of 1 million barrels of Agbami grade crude managed by Shell allowed initial processing operations to finally commence.

According to The PUNCH, an official revealed on Sunday;

“…by January, maybe in the second week, we should start having diesel, after which aviation fuel will come before we now cascade to PMS [gasoline].”

Additional 1 Million Barrel Installments

Dangote Refinery stated the maiden crude cargo from Shell would “sustain the initial 350,000 barrels per day to be processed.”

However, 4 more cargoes totalling 4 million barrels will come from the state oil company NNPC over the next 2-3 weeks.

A final shipment provided by ExxonMobil will complete the refinery’s 6 million barrel startup requirement.

An official statement from the company read;

The maiden one million barrels, which represent the first phase of the six million barrels of crude oil to be supplied to Dangote Petroleum Refinery by a range of suppliers, should sustain the initial 350,000 barrels per day to be processed by the facility.

The next four cargoes will be supplied by the NNPC in two to three weeks and the final of the six cargoes will be supplied by ExxonMobil.

This supply will facilitate the initial run of the refinery as well as kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG, before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit.

Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group added:

“We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone…Our focus over the coming months is to ramp up the refinery to its full capacity.”

Aliko Dangote

Refinery to Attain Energy Self-Sufficiency

When running at maximum 650,000 barrel input, the refinery can fulfill 100% of Nigeria’s demand for gasoline, diesel and other derivatives. Surplus production will also allow exports to countries across West Africa.

The facility is the largest of its kind in Africa and employs cutting-edge energy efficient and emissions reduction technologies.

It remains on-track to commence full-scale operations in 2024, driving increased energy security and prosperity for Nigeria.