Dangote Refinery is gearing up to introduce diesel and aviation fuel to the market in January of the coming year, with petrol expected to follow. The much-anticipated refinery, a transformative project for Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, faced delays but recently received its initial crude feedstock, marking a crucial step towards full-scale production.
The facility, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, requires a minimum of six million barrels of crude oil to commence production of refined petroleum products, including Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Jet A1 (aviation fuel), and Dual Purpose Kerosene (kerosene).
While the refinery officially achieved completion in May, the scheduled production commencement in August was hindered by delays attributed to a shortage of domestic crude feedstock. The recent receipt of one million barrels is the first phase of the required six million, signifying progress in overcoming these challenges.
A representative of Dangote Refinery clarified that the January launch will initially feature diesel and aviation fuel, with petrol expected to follow in subsequent phases. The refinery received its maiden crude cargo, and subsequent shipments, including four from the NNPC and one from ExxonMobil, are anticipated in the coming weeks.
This development marks a significant stride for the Dangote Refinery, signaling the imminent arrival of its products to the market and contributing to the region’s energy landscape.
