Dangote Refinery Receives Maiden Crude Oil from Shell International
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals plant has acquired 1 million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO), one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria and the world, trading over 8 million barrels of crude oil per day. This purchase is a significant step towards increasing Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and achieving energy security (self-sufficiency).
One million barrels of Agbami crude oil were loaded onto the STASCO cargo, which was then transported to the Single Point Mooring (SPM) of the Dangote Refinery and emptied into the refinery’s crude oil tanks.
The first 1 million barrels, or the first part of the 6 million barrels of crude oil that will be provided to Dangote Petroleum Refinery by various suppliers, should be sufficient to support the facility’s initial processing needs of 350,000 barrels per day. In two to three weeks, the NNPC will supply the following four cargoes, while ExxonMobil will supply the last of the six cargoes.
This supply will help the refinery start up and will also initiate the manufacture of LPG, diesel, and aviation fuel before moving on to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). This most recent development will be crucial in easing Nigeria’s and the West African countries’ problems with fuel supply.
The 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery can handle most African crude grades, Middle Eastern Arab Light, even US Light tight oil, and petroleum from other countries. It is designed to process 100% Nigerian crude with the ability to process other crudes.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is able to supply all of Nigeria’s needs for refined products, including aviation jet, diesel, gasoline, and kerosene, and it also has excess inventory of these goods for export.
The refinery’s two SPMs, which are situated 25 kilometers offshore, are designed to handle crude oil, while its three additional SPMs are designed to release petroleum products. Furthermore, the refinery’s truck loading gantries can load 2,900 trucks every day.
The self-sufficient maritime infrastructure at Dangote Refinery can handle the largest vessel in the world. Furthermore, every product that leaves the refinery will meet Euro V requirements.
The refinery is built in accordance with African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards, as well as US EPA, European, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent criteria.
Mr. Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, said, “We are thrilled to have reached this important milestone.” This is a significant accomplishment for our nation since it shows that we are capable of planning and completing major capital projects. During the upcoming months, we intend to fully operate the refinery. As we ship the first batch of goods to the Nigerian market, I eagerly anticipate the next big milestone.
“We welcome the startup of a refinery that is designed to produce gasoline, diesel, and low-sulfur fuels for Nigeria and across West Africa and are happy to be enabling it,” said Mr. Osagie Okunbor, country chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria.
