Dangote Refinery has commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel.
The Cable reported that the 650,00 barrels per day refinery commenced operation in the early hours of Friday.
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Alhaji Aliko Dangote in a post by the Dangote Group on X (formerly Twitter) thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and encouragement towards the actualization of the project.
Aliko Dangote had said the refinery has secured a license to refine more than 300,000 barrels of crude per day.
He also said the products would hit the market within the month after all regulatory approvals are received.
Dangote also thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Nigerians for their support and belief in the historic project.
“We thank President Bola Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true. This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to details”.
“This is a big day for Nigeria. We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone. This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects. This is a game changer for our country.
The Refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries. The products from the Refinery will conform to Euro V specifications. The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and DPR emission/effluent norms.
“I must extend our sincere appreciation to our Bankers and financiers, both local and offshore. In the same vein, we thank the Government of Lagos State, under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I also sincerely thank our host communities and their Traditional leaders.”
Dangote Refinery recently received the sixth one million barrels of crude cargo required for the commencement of operations.
The refinery got the first one million barrels of crude oil shipment from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) at its facility in Lekki on 8 December 2023.
It received the second shipment from NNPC on December 202, 2023 and the third from STASCO on December 29, 2023.
The NNPC supplied the fourth and fifth one million crude shipment on January 1 and 5 respectively.
Upon the receipt of the sixth shipment, Akin Omole, managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations told journalists that the receipt of six million barrels of crude would “facilitate the initial run of the refinery as well as kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had in May 2023 commissioned the refinery, the largest oil refinery in Africa and the world’s biggest single-train facility.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited owns 20% stake in Dangote Refinery.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
