Dangote Refinery Expects Fifth One Million Barrels of Crude Supply Tomorrow

• Last 1m barrels to arrive January 6 barring unforeseen delay

Peter Uzoho

World’s largest single-train refinery, the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company has revealed that its fifth and sixth crude oil shipments from oil producers in Nigeria would arrive between today and January 6, barring any unforeseen circumstances that may cause delay.

Specifically, THISDAY learnt that the fifth one million barrels of crude consignment out of the six shipments earmarked for supply to the facility would arrive the refinery between today and tomorrow (Thursday), while the sixth one million barrels’ shipment would be received on January 6.

The company had on Monday announced receipt of the fourth one million barrels crude cargo of Bonny Light grade from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

However, with four crude cargoes of combined four million barrels now successfully supplied, Dangote Group is now some inches away from starting refining operations at its 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Lagos-based refinery.

The now-awaited two consignments of one million barrels of crude each would be the last to be delivered to the Dangote facility out of the six million barrels of crude being expected by the Aliko Dangote-owned refinery.

The $20 billion refinery located within the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, had earlier received three million barrels of crude from three different consignments of one million barrels each.

Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr. Akin Omole, had told journalists then, at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos that the Refinery would receive about four million crude shipments before the end of 2023, and the remaining two by the early of January 2024. He said the crudes supply would put the refinery in good stead to commence operation.

Once the six million barrels are fully delivered, it 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 petrol.

According to the company, the latest development would play a pivotal role in alleviating the fuel supply challenges faced by Nigeria as well as the West African countries.

Designed for 100 per cent 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.

The refinery promoters said the facility has the capacity to meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and also has a surplus of each of these products for export.

The refinery was built to take crude through its two Single-Point Mooring (SPMs) located 25 kilometres from the shore and to discharge petroleum products through three separate SPMs. In addition, the refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.

Dangote Refinery has a self-sufficient marine facility with the ability to handle the largest vessel globally available. In addition, all products from the refinery would conform to Euro V specifications.

The refinery was 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.

While receiving the first consignment, President of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote had stated: “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.

“Our focus over the coming months is to ramp up the refinery to its full capacity. I look forward to the next significant milestone when we deliver the first batch of products to the Nigerian market.”