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The Dangote Refinery is set to receive five cargoes of crude oil from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), a key milestone that signals the start of sustained refining operations in Nigeria’s most ambitious industrial project.
According to senior industry officials, the deliveries will come in batches over the coming weeks from NNPCL’s domestic crude production. The move is part of an operational plan to ensure steady crude supply as the $20 billion refinery transitions from test runs to full commercial operations.
Located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery is the largest in Africa and one of the most complex refineries globally. Its completion is seen as a game-changer for Nigeria’s energy sector, which has long struggled with fuel import dependency despite being a top oil producer.
The NNPCL, which holds a minority equity stake in the refinery, confirmed that the crude deliveries align with the federal government’s efforts to strengthen domestic refining capacity and curb fuel importation costs. The partnership between the two entities also reinforces the government’s goal of ensuring energy self-sufficiency and improving balance of payments.
Analysts note that supplying crude from domestic production, rather than imports, could save Nigeria significant foreign exchange and reduce transportation bottlenecks. The refinery’s operation is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs while stimulating growth in ancillary industries like logistics, petrochemicals, and engineering services.
This development comes at a time when global energy markets are shifting, with oil-producing nations seeking to extract more value locally. For Nigeria, refining domestically means retaining more revenue within the economy and stabilizing fuel availability.
Industry observers also point out that once the Dangote Refinery reaches full capacity, it could export refined products across West Africa, positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for petroleum processing and supply.
While no exact delivery dates were disclosed, officials indicated that the first shipment could arrive within weeks, paving the way for commercial-scale refining to begin before year’s end. The move marks a critical step toward fulfilling Nigeria’s decades-long ambition to become self-sufficient in refined petroleum production.