The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, a colossal 650,000 barrels per day plant located in Nigeria, has achieved a significant breakthrough by procuring one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO), following protracted delays.
In an eagerly awaited development, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is poised to deliver four cargoes within the next two to three weeks, with ExxonMobil committed to supplying the final six cargoes. This pivotal update was communicated to the public through an official statement released by the company on Thursday.
According to the statement, the initial phase involving 6 million barrels of crude oil is expected to sustain the refinery’s operations at an initial capacity of 350,000 barrels per day. The recent STASCO cargo, comprising 1 million barrels sourced from Agbami, made its way to the Dangote Refinery’s Single Point Mooring (SPM) and was seamlessly discharged into the refinery’s crude oil tanks.
While reflecting on the journey that led to this significant moment, it’s noteworthy to recall that the Dangote refinery was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari on May 22 of the previous year, with the ambitious aim of commencing operations in July. Despite the grand inauguration, the refinery encountered delays, thereby deferring its operational debut.
Looking ahead, the Executive Director of Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, has projected that the refinery will receive its inaugural crude oil cargo, heralding the initiation of its operations in October 2023. However, the Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, has raised concerns regarding the refinery’s prolonged gestation period.
This notable stride marks a pivotal juncture for the Dangote Refinery, signifying not only a significant step towards its operationalization but also underscoring its strategic positioning within the Nigerian and global petroleum landscape.
