Dangote Refinery has a further move towards the commencement of production of refined petroleum products with the receipt of additional one million barrels of bonny light crude supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited ( NNPCL).
The fresh one million barrels of crude from the Shell terminal via the MT Otis owned by Trafigural is the second consignment to be delivered to the Dangote facility out of the six million barrels of crude being expected by world’s largest single – train refinery.
About a week ago Dangote Refinery received one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited ( STASCO), one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria as well as globally, trading over 8 million barrels of Crude oil per day.
Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Mr. Akin Omole to newsmen at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju – Lekki, Lagos that the Refinery is expecting more crude before the end of this year to the Refinery in good stead to commence operation.
The one million barrels represent the Second Phase of the 6 million barrels of crude oil to supplied to Dangote Petroleum Refinery By a range of Suppliers for the production of Petroleum products.
Once the 6 million barrels are fully delivered, it 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 Nigeria and West African Countries.
Designed for 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 – Arab Light tight oil as well as crude from other countries.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and aviation jet A1 and also have surplus of each of these products 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 truck loading gantries.
Dangote Refinery has a self – sufficient marine facility with the ability to handle the largest Vessel globally available. In addition, all the 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 Resources (DPR) emission affluent norms as well as African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) Standards.
While receiving the first Consignment, President of Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote had stated: “We are delighted 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 batch of products to the Nigerian market.
Also the Country Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor had said “We welcome the start up of a refinery that is designed to produce gasoline, diesel, and low sulphur fuel for Nigeria and across West – Africa and happy to be enabling it”.
