Dangote Oil Refinery, currently operating at 85% capacity, is set to reach full production within the next 30 days.The 650,000-barrel-per-day facility began refining crude into diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January last year, adding petrol production in September. Once at full capacity, the refinery aims to compete with European refiners but has faced challenges in securing adequate crude supplies locally.
Refinery head Edwin Devakumar confirmed to Reuters that operations were progressing steadily, stating, “We can go 100 per cent in 30 days.”Despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in the local naira currency, the refinery struggled to secure sufficient volumes last year and had to resort to importing crude.
To ensure stable operations in 2024, the refinery has requested 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude for the January-June period from Nigerian oil producers. In response, the country’s oil regulator has warned that it will block export permits for producers failing to meet their domestic supply quotas.
As part of its growth strategy, Dangote Oil Refinery is actively exploring new markets for its refined products. Founder Aliko Dangote recently told visiting Nigerian professionals that the refinery is exporting two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco, signaling its ambition to expand globally.“We are looking at all the markets right now,” added Devakumar, emphasizing the refinery’s plans to establish a strong international presence.
