Africa’s largest oil refinery, the Dangote facility in Nigeria, could reach its full operational capacity by next month, according to the refinery’s head. The facility began producing fuel in 2024, starting with diesel and naphtha in January and adding gasoline production in September.
Built by Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, the refinery has a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), making it not only the largest in Africa but also one of the biggest in the world.
Currently, the refinery is operating at about 85% of its capacity, and Edwin Devakumar, the refinery’s head, told Reuters that it could reach full capacity within 30 days.
Once fully operational, the Dangote refinery is expected to supply all of Nigeria’s demand for refined petroleum products, with a surplus available for export.
Until now, Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has relied on imports to meet its fuel needs. With the Dangote refinery in operation, Nigeria is on track to shift from being a gasoline importer to an exporter. This move could impact global fuel markets, particularly in Europe.
Leading global commodity traders, such as Vitol, Trafigura, and BP, have been major buyers of fuel produced by the Dangote refinery. According to Bloomberg, most of the refinery’s shipments have been picked up by these three traders, as reported by Geneva-based oil analytics firm Precise Intelligence.
However, securing a steady crude supply for the refinery has been a challenge during its first year of operation. Aliko Dangote and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu have met with domestic oil regulators and officials to discuss improving crude deliveries to the refinery.
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