Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, has announced that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will begin supplying petrol by mid-July.
This update follows a slight delay from the previously anticipated June start date.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Dangote Sinotruk West Africa’s completely knocked-down (CKD) plant in Lagos on June 9, Dangote provided clarity on the refinery’s timeline. “We had a bit of delay, but PMS will start coming out by 10 to 15 of July,” he stated. “We want to keep it in the tank to make sure that it settles, so by the third week of July, we’ll be able to come out to take it into the market.”
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Earlier, on May 18, Dangote had indicated that the refinery would begin petrol production in June, ensuring that Nigeria would no longer need to import the product. The latest update sets the new target for petrol supply to the downstream market around July 15, with market distribution expected by the third week of July.
In addition to this development, Dangote highlighted some challenges faced by the refinery, particularly regarding crude oil supply. On June 3, he mentioned that some international oil companies (IOCs) are struggling to supply crude to the refinery.
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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) acknowledged these issues on June 5 and stated that discussions are ongoing with the IOCs to ensure they meet their domestic crude oil supply obligations.
The successful commencement of operations at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is highly anticipated, as it promises to significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petrol and enhance the country’s energy security.