Dangote Refinery is set to import two million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Midland crude oil from the United States in a notable departure from its reliance on Nigerian crude. Trafigura Group facilitated the deal, with delivery scheduled for the end of February. This marks a significant shift for the 650,000 barrel-a-day oil refinery, which has traditionally sourced its crude from Nigeria.
Previously, the Dangote Refinery commenced operations in January, receiving six batches of crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Late December saw the facility’s first crude supply, with six million barrels pumped into the refinery in various installments.
The Dangote Refinery, touted as a game-changer for Nigeria’s economy, aims to end the country’s dependence on imported fuel. While currently operational at a reduced capacity, the refinery is expected to refine diesel and aviation fuel initially, gradually expanding to petrol production.
Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest oil producer and the continent’s leading economy, has long relied on imported fuel and diesel due to the inefficient state of local refineries. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, when fully operational, aims to meet 100 percent of Nigeria’s refined product requirements, with potential surpluses for export. This move into US crude oil marks a strategic step for Dangote Refinery, diversifying its crude sources and contributing to the refinery’s pivotal role in reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape.
