Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals have acquired one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) in a strategic move aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and achieving energy self-sufficiency.
In an official statement obtained by Vanguard, Dangote Refinery revealed that the purchased cargo from Agbami was the first phase of a larger procurement plan, with a total of six million barrels set to be supplied by various suppliers. This initial batch of one million barrels is integral to sustaining the initial processing capacity of 350,000 barrels per day at the refinery.
The subsequent four cargoes are slated to be supplied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) within the next two to three weeks, followed by the final shipment from ExxonMobil, completing the six-cargo arrangement. Dangote Refinery anticipates that this supply will enable the initial operations of the refinery, facilitating the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG, with the progression to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Dangote Refinery, designed to process 650,000 barrels per day, is equipped to handle a variety of crude grades, including Nigerian crude, Middle Eastern Arab Light, US Light tight oil, and others. The refinery aims to meet 100% of Nigeria’s refined product requirements, such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet fuel, with the surplus available for export.
Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, expressed delight at reaching this significant milestone and emphasized the company’s commitment to ramping up the refinery to its full capacity in the coming months. The refinery’s compliance with international emission norms and standards positions it as a crucial player in addressing fuel supply challenges in Nigeria and West African countries.
Osagie Okunbor, the Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, welcomed the refinery’s startup, highlighting its potential to produce essential fuels for Nigeria and West Africa, emphasizing Shell’s contribution to enabling this development.
