In a historic breakthrough for Nigeria’s energy sector, the Dangote Refinery has successfully delivered its inaugural shipment of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to the United States, marking the first time Nigeria has exported refined gasoline to the world’s largest economy.
The cargo arrived in the United States on Monday, September 15, 2025, when the tanker Gemini Pearl docked at Sunoco’s facility in Linden, New Jersey. Received by the American fuel distributor, the delivery marks a major milestone — the first time petrol refined in Nigeria has reached the U.S. market, one of the most competitive and heavily regulated in the world.
The shipment, comprising approximately 320,000 barrels of high-quality petrol, was purchased by global oil trader Vitol from Mocoh Oil—Dangote’s export partner and subsequently sold to North American fuel distributor Sunoco.
This delivery not only highlights the refinery’s compliance with stringent U.S. fuel quality standards but also signals its growing influence in global refined product markets.
A second cargo, sold by Glencore to Shell and transported on the MH Daisen, is expected to arrive in New York Harbour around September 19, further solidifying this new trade route.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, celebrated the achievement during a press briefing on Monday, revealing that the 650,000-barrels-per-day facility has exported over 1.1 billion litres of PMS between June and the first week of September 2025 alone. “This milestone proves that Nigeria can meet its domestic demand while generating significant foreign exchange through exports,” Dangote stated, emphasizing the refinery’s role in ending decades of fuel scarcity and import dependency.
He added that the plant aims to reach a production capacity of 700,000 barrels per day by next year, potentially boosting exports even further. The journey to this point has been marked by challenges, including startup delays and disputes with regulators over crude supply.
Operational since early 2024, the $20 billion refinery—Africa’s largest—has ramped up output to around 550,000 barrels per day, with full capacity expected soon. It processes locally sourced crude, primarily from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), reducing the country’s reliance on imported refined fuels that once cost billions annually.
This export success not only bolsters Nigeria’s balance of payments but also positions the country as a reliable supplier in the transatlantic fuel trade, challenging traditional importers like the U.S., which has historically sourced crude from Nigeria but now receives its refined products. As the refinery continues to scale, stakeholders anticipate more such milestones, fostering sustainable growth in Africa’s oil-dependent giant.
Administrator and Writer
