The much awaited news of the commencement of Dangote refinery for the production of petro chemical products would have been a succor to Nigerians considering the high cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol commonly used by Nigerians.
Recall that the company announced the commencement of production
commenced on Friday.
The refinery received the fifth crude oil shipment of one million barrels of Bonny Light supplied by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited last week.
The 650,000 barrels-per-day oil processing facility started operations in May 2023.
It is designed to process crude oil grades from the three continents of Africa, Asia and America.
Dangote refinery made a move towards the commencement of production of refined petroleum products with the receipt of an additional one million barrels of bonny light crude supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
The fresh one million barrels of crude from the Shell terminal via the MT Otis owned by Trafigural is the second consignment to be delivered to the Dangote facility out of the six million barrels of crude being expected by the world’s largest single-train refinery.
About a week ago Dangote Refinery received one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO), one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria as well as globally, trading over 8 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr Akin Omole revealed that despite commencing operation, Dangote refinery will not start with the production of petrol but with diesel, aviation fuel, and LPG.
“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 LPG before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).”
The one million barrels represent the second phase of the 6 million barrels of crude oil to be supplied to Dangote Petroleum Refinery by a range of suppliers for the production of petroleum products.
The Aliko Dangote-built oil refinery howver received its first supply of crude late last year, despite its scheduled June 2023 start date.
The refinery has an excess of petrol, diesel, kerosene and aviation jets that it may export in addition to meeting all of Nigeria’s needs for refined goods.
The refinery’s two SPMs, which are situated 25 km offshore, are designed to handle crude oil, while its three more SPMs are designed to release petroleum products. Furthermore, the refinery’s truck-loading gantries can load 2,900 trucks per day.
The complex is located on 2,635 hectares (6,500 acres) of land in the Lekki Free Zone on the outskirts of Lagos.
It is anticipated that the Port Harcourt refinery will start producing at the same time as the Dangote refinery.
The Federal Government, in December, confirmed the commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company in Rivers State.
