Dangote Refinery plans to commission its alkylation unit in April, enabling its 650,000 b/d facility to run its crude distillation unit (CDU) at full capacity.Currently, CDU capacity is 550,000 b/d, but vessel tracking data suggests lower actual output. Crude arrivals dropped to 175,000-235,000 b/d in March from 405,000 b/d in February.
The alkylation unit, which produces high-octane alkylate for gasoline blending, is the refinery’s last secondary unit to go online.Argus Consulting estimates the alkylation unit’s capacity at 27,000 b/d. Once operational, it will allow other secondary units to run at full capacity, boosting gasoline blending component production.Lower refinery runs may indicate reduced gasoline output, a key product in Nigeria’s market.
Gasoline and blending component imports reached 345,000t this month, up from 245,000t in February.West Africa’s petroleum imports are expected to hit 450,000t in April, with Nigeria accounting for about 75% of the total.
