Dangote refinery imports first UAE crude as global oil supply rises

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has expanded its crude sourcing with its first-ever purchases from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), importing 2 million barrels of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June, traders have disclosed.

The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery reportedly received one cargo of Umm Lulu crude and another cargo of either Das or Murban crude, marking a significant step in its efforts to diversify feedstock supplies beyond Nigeria.

The purchases come amid improved global crude availability following the United States-Iran ceasefire earlier this month, which has eased concerns over disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Weaker crude demand across Asia has also made more Middle Eastern oil available to buyers in other regions.

Although the refinery relies primarily on supplies from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, it has consistently maintained that domestic deliveries alone are insufficient to meet its operational needs.

The facility currently receives between five and seven crude cargoes each month from NNPC Limited but requires between 13 and 15 cargoes monthly to operate closer to full capacity.

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Neither Dangote refinery nor ADNOC commented on the reported transactions.

While the refinery declined to comment, the UAE oil producer did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

The latest imports underscore Dangote refinery’s strategy of broadening its crude supply network. In May, the refinery imported up to 65,000 barrels per day of Libyan crude, according to data from energy intelligence firm Kpler.

Since beginning operations, the refinery has become a major supplier of refined petroleum products, particularly middle distillates, to European markets, where demand has been supported by fuel shortages linked to shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.