In a major stride towards operationalizing the world’s largest single-train refinery, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery marked a significant achievement on Monday as it welcomed its fourth shipment of one million barrels of bonny light crude oil. Supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, this milestone brings the $20 billion refinery one step closer to initiating production.
A statement from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery affirmed that the facility, located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is anticipating the arrival of its fifth crude oil shipment in the near future. Company officials revealed that the refinery had already received three previous shipments, laying the groundwork for the commencement of production.
“The fresh one million barrels of crude was the fourth consignment to be delivered to the Dangote facility out of the six million barrels of crude being expected by the world’s largest single-train refinery,” the statement explained.
Akin Omole, the Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, provided insights into the refinery’s timeline, stating that the facility aims to receive a total of four million crude oil shipments by the end of 2023. He added that the remaining two shipments were expected by early January 2024, positioning the refinery for the much-anticipated commencement of production.
Once the entire six million barrels are delivered, the refinery is set to initiate its operations with the production of refined products such as Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), aviation fuel (JetA1), and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The production will then progress to include Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol.
The Dangote Refinery, boasting a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is poised to meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s refined petroleum product requirements, covering petrol, diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel. Additionally, the facility anticipates having a surplus of each of these products for export.
Highlighting the refinery’s infrastructure readiness, Akin Omole emphasized the self-sufficient marine facility capable of handling the largest vessels globally. This facility has been crucial in efficiently receiving the crude oil shipments, contributing to the refinery’s progress.
Upon receiving the first consignment of crude, Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, expressed his delight, stating,
“This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects.”
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Looking ahead, Dangote emphasized the focus on ramping up the refinery to full capacity and eagerly awaited the moment when the first batch of products would be delivered to the Nigerian market.
The ongoing success of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery stands as a testament to the nation’s capability to undertake and achieve ambitious industrial projects.