In a major step towards boosting Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and attaining energy security (self sufficiency) , Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Plant has purchased 1million barrels of Agbami Crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) on one of the largest trading over 8 million barrels of barrels of Crude oil per day.
The STASCO Cargo Contained 1million barrels from Agbami and sailed to Dangote Refinery’s Single Point Mooring (SPM) where it was discharged into the refinery Crude oil tanks.
The maiden 1million barrels which represents the first phase of the 6 million barrels of Crude Oil to be supplied to Dangote Petroleum Refinery by a range of suppliers, should sustain the initial 350, 000 barrels per day to be processed by the facility. The next four Cargoes will be supplied by the NNPC in two to three weeks and final of the six Cargoes will be supplied by Exxon Mobil.
This supply will facilitate the Initial run of the refinery as well as kick start the production of diesel, aviation fuel and LPG before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS ) .
This latest development will play a pivotal role in alleviating the fuel supply challenges faced by Nigerians as well as the West African Countries.
Designed for one hundred ( 100 ) per cent Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other Crudes, the 650, 000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery can Process most African Crude grades as well as Middle – Eastern Light and even US Light tight Oil as well as Crude from other countries.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet One hundred per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and also have surplus of each of these product for export.
The refinery was built to take crude through its two SPMs located 25 Kilometres from the shore and discharge Petroleum products through three separate SPMs. In addition, the refinery has the capacity to load 2,900 trucks a day at its loading gantries.
Dangote Refinery has a self sufficient marine facility with the ability to handle the largest Vessel globally available. In addition all products from the refinery will conform to EURO V Specifications.
The refinery is designed to comply with US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum ( DPR ) emission/ effluent norms as well as African Refines and Distribution Association Standards.
President of Dangote Groups, Mr. Aliko Dangote stated: “We are delightful to have reached this significant milestone. This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large Capital Projects . Our focus over the coming months is to ramp up the refinery to its full capacity. I look forward to the next significant milestone when we deliver the first of products to the Nigerian market.
Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor stated: “We welcome the start up of a refinery that is designed to produce gasoline, diesel and low – Sulphur fuel for Nigeria and across West African and are happy to be enabling it'”.
