Dangote Refinery Gears Up For Production After Receiving Six Million Barrels of Crude From NNPC

World’s largest single-train oil refinery, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on Monday, achieved what may be described as final proof of its readiness to commence production of refined petroleum products with the receipt of the sixth batch of one million barrels of crude supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).

The fresh one million barrels of Agbami crude grade delivered through MT ALMI SUN, was the sixth to complete the six million barrels consignment scheduled for delivery to the Dangote facility, which are needed to commence operations at the $20 billion facility.

The Dangote Group announced the delivery of the last batch of crude supply in a statement on Monday.

With this latest consignment delivered, the Lekki Free Trade Zone-housed refinery effectively has a total of six million barrels of crude now in stock as the 650,000 barrels per day oil facility sets to roar into production white petroleum products in the shortest possible time.

Exactly a month ago, Dangote Refinery had 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, trading over eight million barrels of crude oil per day. Since then, the Aliko Dangote-owned refinery has been receiving in batches, one million barrels of crude oil with the latest batch of the six million already being discharged at the Single Point Mooring (SPM-C2) at the Dangote Offshore Oil Terminal (DOOT), according to the statement.

Speaking during the maiden one million barrels of oil delivery then, Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr. Akin Omole, had told journalists at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos that the refinery would collect all the six million barrels of crude before the end of January 2024 to put the refinery in good stead to commence operation.

“Once the six million barrels are fully delivered, it will 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).

“This latest development will play a pivotal role in alleviating the fuel supply challenges faced by Nigeria as well as the West African countries”, Omole had stated.

Designed for 100 percent Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes, the promoters of the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery said the facility could 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.

In addition, they said the refinery could meet 100 percent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and also have surplus of each of these products for export.

The refinery was built to take crude through its two SPMs located 25 kilometres from the shore and to discharge petroleum products through three separate SPMs.

In addition, the refinery, according to the company, has the capacity to load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck loading gantries, even as it has a self-sufficient marine facility with the ability to handle the largest vessel globally available.

Moreover, all products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications.

“The refinery is also designed to comply with US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms as well as African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards”, the company added.

Peter Uzoho

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