Dangote Refinery Seeks Crude Oil Imports from Libya and Angola Amid Nigerian Supply Challenge
In a bid to overcome a supply challenge in Nigeria, the Dangote Refinery has announced plans to import crude oil from Libya and Angola. According to Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industry Limited (DIL), the refinery is also exploring other African countries for crude oil imports to increase production.
In an interview with Reuters on Sunday, Edwin revealed that the refinery is in talks with Libya and Angola, stating, “We are talking to Libya about importing crude. We will talk to Angola, as well and some other countries in Africa.” The refinery, which has a daily capacity of 650,000 barrels, had previously sought crude oil imports from the United States and Brazil.
The development comes amid a recent controversy surrounding the refinery’s products, which were described as inferior by Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Ahmed’s statement sparked a wide range of reactions from the public, with many calling for independent testing to verify the quality of the refinery’s products.
In response, Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, dismissed Ahmed’s statement, calling for an independent test to determine the quality of the refinery’s products. Dangote Refinery’s petroleum products are not inferior, he maintained.
The refinery’s decision to seek crude oil imports from Libya and Angola is expected to help address the supply challenge in Nigeria, which has been plagued by fuel scarcity and long queues at petrol stations in recent months.
