Dangote Refinery Poised to Hit Full Capacity in 30 Days—Top Executive

Africa’s largest oil refinery, the Dangote Oil Refinery, is on the verge of reaching full operational capacity in just a month, marking a major milestone for Nigeria’s energy sector. Edwin Devakumar, the refinery’s head, revealed this in an exclusive interview with Reuters, stating that the facility is currently running at 85% capacity and is set to scale up to 100% within 30 days.

The 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery, owned by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, began processing crude into diesel, jet fuel, and naphtha in January last year, with petrol production commencing in September. Despite its ambitious goals to compete with European refiners and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports, the refinery has faced challenges in securing a steady supply of crude oil locally.

Due to limited crude availability, Dangote Refinery resorted to importing crude oil last year, despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase local crude in naira. To address this, the refinery has requested 550,000 bpd of crude from Nigerian oil producers for the first half of this year. The country’s oil regulator has also stepped in, warning that export permits will be blocked for producers who fail to meet their domestic supply obligations.

Built at an estimated cost of $20 billion, the Dangote Refinery is a game-changer for Nigeria, aiming to transform the country from a fuel importer into a refining powerhouse. As it gears up for full-scale operations, all eyes are on its ability to secure adequate crude supply and sustain production at maximum capacity.