The highly anticipated 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery is poised to commence operations next month with an initial supply of up to six cargoes of crude oil by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), News About Nigeria gathered.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that this supply is intended to facilitate the refinery’s test runs.
The refinery, funded by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, is situated in the Lekki Free Trade zone in Lagos State.
Upon reaching full operational capacity, it is expected to transform Nigeria into a net exporter of fuels, a significant shift for the country, which currently relies heavily on fuel imports.
An NNPCL official, speaking anonymously, disclosed that December would see the supply of six cargoes or 200,000 barrels of oil per day as part of a one-year deal. Future monthly volumes are expected to be supplied based on mutual agreement and availability.
Other sources indicated that plans involve four to five cargoes, amounting to at least 130,000 barrels per day.
The NNPCL holds a 20% stake in the Dangote Refinery.
Although a Dangote Group official declined to provide specific details on the NNPC supply deal, citing confidentiality clauses, it marks a crucial step in the operationalisation of the refinery.
The commissioning process began in May this year after facing delays and cost overruns, with the final cost reaching $19 billion, surpassing the initial estimates of $12-14 billion.
Commissioning involves testing various units to ensure they effectively produce a range of products, including gasoline and diesel.
The former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the facility a few months ago as his administration reached its conclusion.
