Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially begun the production of diesel and aviation fuel, marking a significant step in its operational activities. However, the refinery has yet to commence the production of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
Anthony Chiejina, the Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, confirmed the commencement of operations late on Friday. In a subsequent statement released in the early hours of Saturday, the Dangote Group specified that it has initiated the production of diesel and aviation fuel.
Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, expressed his elation and gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and encouragement in realizing the project. He also extended appreciation to various entities, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, as well as Nigerians for their support.
Dangote acknowledged President Tinubu’s visionary leadership, describing the day as significant for Nigeria and emphasizing the project’s role as a game-changer for the country. He thanked the group’s bankers and financiers, both local and offshore, and expressed gratitude to the Government of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, host communities, and traditional leaders.
The statement from the Dangote Group highlighted that the refinery has the capacity to load 2,900 trucks per day at its truck-loading gantries. The products from the refinery adhere to Euro V specifications, and the design complies with international emission norms, including those set by the World Bank, US EPA, European standards, and DPR emission/effluent norms.
Earlier reports indicated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was scheduled to begin producing Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and JetA1 (aviation fuel) in January 2024. The delay in petrol production was attributed to the supply of crude oil in installments.
Situated in the Dangote Industries Free Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Project is a massive facility with a daily crude oil refining capacity of 650,000 barrels. The refinery, covering approximately 2,635 hectares, has already received six shipments of one million barrels each of crude oil.
Nigerians are hopeful that the operationalization of the refinery will contribute to a reduction in the prices of petroleum products.