The Dangote Group is preparing to launch large-scale crude oil production from its upstream assets within the coming weeks, marking a significant step toward securing local feedstock for its flagship refinery. Devakumar Edwin, vice president of the Dangote Group, revealed in an interview with Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, that early well testing has commenced on crude from its Niger Delta licenses. The company has already initiated standard well testing and is poised to scale up output.
“We have opened a well and begun standard testing, which should be completed in the next three to four weeks maximum,” Edwin said. “After that point, oil can start to be pumped in larger volumes, and the company can begin work on drilling new wells.”
David Bird, chief executive officer of the Dangote refinery, emphasized that the upstream assets could provide a more stable crude supply for the facility. He noted that the company is also seeking to establish its own shipping presence to reduce logistics costs and improve the reliability of its crude sourcing.
The development comes amid ongoing challenges with securing adequate domestic crude oil supplies for the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, which has historically sourced the majority of its crude from outside Nigeria despite a local Naira-for-crude sale agreement. In April 2026, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited pledged to increase its crude supply to the Dangote Refinery to seven cargoes.
The Nigerian government has yet to officially confirm the start of production from Dangote’s upstream assets. Industry observers see the move as a strategic effort to reduce dependence on imported crude and strengthen the country’s energy self-sufficiency.
