Dangote Refinery receives sixth crude cargo, set to commence operations

By Abubakar Yunus

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery says it has received the sixth one million barrels of crude oil required for the commencement of operations.
In a statement, the firm said the product was supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on Monday, and got discharged at the single point mooring (SPM-C2) of the Dangote offshore oil terminal (DOOT).
The fresh one million Agbami barrels of crude via MT ALMI SUN is the last cargo to complete the initial scheduled six million barrels consignment to be delivered to the Dangote facility, according to the statement.
The development means that the plant is now set to begin production of refined petroleum products.
On December 8, 2023, the refinery received the first one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) — one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria as well as globally.
Since then, the facility has been receiving the crude oil in batches, with the fifth cargo delivered on January 4, 2024.
“This latest development will play a pivotal role in alleviating the fuel supply challenges faced by Nigeria as well as the West African countries,” the firm said.
“Designed for 100% Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes, the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery can process most African crude grades as well as Middle Eastern Arab Light and even US Light tight oil as well as crude from other countries.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100% of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and has a surplus of each of these products for export.
Akin Omole, managing director of Dangote Ports Operations, had told journalists at the Dangote quay in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, 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 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)”