The eagerly awaited Dangote Refinery is set to commence test runs this week after receiving its sixth 1 million barrel cargo of crude on Monday, reaching a total of 6 million barrels delivered since the first shipment in December.
The company stated, “The 6th one million Agbami crude oil was delivered via MT ALMI SUN, thus enabling the Refinery to meet the stocks required to test run its operations.” This delivery came from the Agbami field in the Niger Delta, showcasing the refinery’s preparation for the test phase.
The Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr. Akin Omole, highlighted the importance of this delivery, stating, “Once the 6 million barrels are fully delivered, it will 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 Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”
With a capacity to produce 350,000 barrels per day, the Dangote Refinery is a colossal integrated project located in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Nigeria.
It is expected to be Africa’s largest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility.
The Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk, expressed excitement over the refinery’s progress, calling it a “significant milestone” for Nigeria and the West African region.
According to a senior company executive, the next crucial step involves starting the crude distillation unit, a key component of the refinery.
The commencement of this process is highly likely in the upcoming week.
The executive stated, “Saleable products will start coming from the first week itself. But, of course, the volume will be limited and the variety of saleable products will also be limited and it will start building up, as each major department gets commissioned.”
With its 650,000-barrel capacity, the Dangote Refinery aims to end petroleum product imports in Nigeria and meet the energy needs of West African countries.
Despite previous delays, the refinery’s progress aligns with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provisions signed in 2021, as oil-producing companies have been mandated to send 350,000 barrels of oil to the Dangote refinery daily in the first half of 2024.
