The Dangote Refinery, a $19 billion facility with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (b/d), is gearing up for production as it received its first crude feedstock.
The OTIS tanker, carrying a cargo of 950,000 barrels of Agbami crude, discharged at the refinery’s terminal on Thursday, marking a significant step toward the start of fuel production.
The privately owned refinery was officially completed in May but faced delays due to a lack of domestic crude feedstock.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which owns a 20% stake in the refinery, recently agreed to supply 6 million barrels of crude oil as feedstock in December.
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The Agbami crude, sourced from the central Niger Delta and produced by Chevron, is known for its light sweet characteristics.
The Dangote Refinery, operated by the Dangote Group, has faced repeated delays since its announcement in 2013.
However, with the arrival of the first crude feedstock, the giant plant is poised to ramp up operations.
The refinery’s design includes the capacity to process multiple crudes simultaneously, with a focus on Nigerian grades such as Escravos, Bonny Light, and Forcados.
Once fully operational, the refinery is expected to produce 327,000 b/d of gasoline, 244,000 b/d of gasoil/diesel, 56,000 b/d of jet fuel/kerosene, and 290,000 metric tons per year of propane/LPG.
The development is a crucial milestone for the refinery and the broader Nigerian energy sector.
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