Dangote refinery begins production of diesel, aviation fuel

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel in Lagos State.

The Group Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, January 12, 2024.

Chiejina quoted the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as thanking President Bola Tinubu for his support, encouragement, and thoughtful advice towards the actualisation of the project.

Dangote also thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Nigerians for their support and belief in the historic project.

He said: “We thank President Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true.

“This production, as witnessed today (Friday), would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to details.

“His intervention at various stages cleared all impediments, thereby accelerating the actualisation of the project.

“We also thank the NNPCL, NUPRC, and NMDPRA for their support. These organisations have been our dependable partners in this historic journey.

“We also thank Nigerians for their belief and support in this project.

“We have started the production of diesel and aviation fuel, and the products will be in the market before the end of the month.

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“This is a big day for Nigeria. 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.

“This is a game changer for our country, and I am very fulfilled with the actualisation of this project.

“The refinery has so far received six million barrels of crude oil at its two SPMs located 25 kilometres from the shore.

“The first crude delivery was done on December 12, 2023, and the 6th cargo was delivered on January 8, 2024.”

Dangote said the refinery can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries, adding that the products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications.

Dangote stated that the refinery design complies with the World Bank, U.S. EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms.

He said: “I must extend our sincere appreciation to our bankers and financiers, both local and offshore, who demonstrated a great deal of patience, in seeing us through many difficult times.

“In the same vein, we thank the Government of Lagos State, under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has been incredibly proactive in ensuring that the many challenges we encountered in the course of executing this project were quickly resolved.

“I also sincerely thank our host communities and their traditional leaders for their sustained patience, forbearance, and admirable willingness to work with us to find amicable and win-win resolutions to the many issues we have had to deal with as the construction of this huge facility progressed.

“Our staff have also contributed so immensely to the success of this project. I thank them profusely.”

The Star