Dangote Refinery Set to Begin Petrol Production in September
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is gearing up to commence petrol production by mid-September 2024, following ongoing test runs, according to a report by Reuters. However, there is a possibility of further delays, as indicated by industry monitor IIR Energy, which informed clients that the start date could be extended again.
Initially, the refinery was scheduled to begin production in June 2024, but technical issues led to a postponement to July. Despite this adjustment, the refinery missed the July target as well. Aliko Dangote, CEO of Dangote Refinery, acknowledged the delays but assured that production would begin in August. However, the latest report suggests that petrol production may now start in mid-September.
Despite these delays, the refinery has already started supplying jet fuel and diesel to domestic marketers in Nigeria. In addition, the $20 billion facility marked a milestone by exporting its first cargo of jet fuel to Europe in May 2024. The shipment, carried by the vessel “Doric Breeze,” departed from the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos and was destined for Rotterdam, Netherlands, as confirmed by S&P Global Commodities.
Dangote emphasized that the refinery is positioned to become one of the world’s leading petroleum refineries. “We aim to export petroleum products globally and compete with any company. By next week, we’ll be producing about ten thousand ppm in diesel, while currently, we import about 2 to 3 thousand. We will produce the best,” he stated.
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The refinery is expected to drastically reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products. Despite being Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer, Nigeria imports nearly all of its fuel due to inadequate refining infrastructure—a gap the Dangote Refinery aims to fill. The refinery, which only began distributing diesel and aviation fuel almost eight months after its commissioning in May last year, hopes to significantly reduce energy imports not just in Nigeria but across West Africa as well
