The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has revealed plans to reach a full operational capacity of 650,000 barrels per day within the next 30 days. However, securing sufficient crude oil supply locally remains a critical challenge.

The Head of the Refinery, Edwin Devakumar, who disclosed this yesterday, stated that the plant is currently operating at 85 per cent capacity and could ramp up to 100 per cent within a month.

He mentioned that the facility began processing crude into diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January last year, adding petrol to its production line in September.

Devakumar noted that despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in local currency, the refinery struggled last year to obtain enough supply domestically and had to import crude.

According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the refinery has requested 550,000 bpd of crude for January-June this year from Nigerian oil producers.

NNPCL has also mandated oil producers to prioritise supplying local refineries, and has threatened to block export permits for companies that fail to meet their obligations.

Looking beyond Nigeria, the Dangote Refinery is expanding its market reach. The Founder, Aliko Dangote, recently revealed that the company had sent two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco as part of efforts to establish global trade partnerships.

Devakumar reaffirmed that the refinery is actively seeking opportunities in both regional and international markets.

Once fully operational, the refinery is expected to compete with European refiners, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel. However, sustaining full production will depend on securing a steady supply of crude locally, a challenge that could determine its long-term impact on the nation’s energy sector.

https://guardian.ng/news/dangote-refinery-targets-650000-bpd-full-capacity-in-30-day/