The Dangote Petroleum Refinery welcomed its fourth shipment of one million barrels of bonny light crude oil on Monday, supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited.
A statement from the $20 billion firm confirmed the arrival and hinted at the imminent arrival of the fifth shipment. Officials anticipate initiating the production of refined Automotive Gas Oil and aviation fuel, also known as JetA1, within the month.
The facility has already received three previous shipments and is expecting a total of six million barrels to kickstart operations.
Managing Director Akin Omole, speaking earlier at the Dangote Quay in Lagos, mentioned the refinery’s target of receiving four million barrels before the end of 2023.
He noted that the remaining two million barrels would arrive by early January 2024, paving the way for production commencement.
Upon the full delivery of the six million barrels, the refinery plans to start with diesel, aviation fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas production before moving on to Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol.
The Dangote refinery, boasting a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, aims to fulfill 100% of Nigeria’s refined petroleum product needs, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel, with a surplus available for export.
The facility’s self-sufficient marine infrastructure handles large vessels for crude oil shipments.
After receiving the first consignment, Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, expressed delight, highlighting the milestone’s significance for the country and emphasizing their dedication to ramping up refinery operations.
He eagerly anticipated the next milestone: delivering the initial product batch to the Nigerian market.
