NNPC supplies over 6.8m barrels of crude to Dangote Refinery in April

Crude oil deliveries from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to the Dangote Oil and Gas Company surged in April 2026, exceeding 1.03 million metric tonnes—equivalent to about 6.8 million barrels.

Shipment data indicates that the volumes were delivered through eight cargoes handled by NNPC’s trading arm, reinforcing its role as a key supplier to the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos.

The cargoes were sourced from major Nigerian crude streams, including Anyala, Bonga, Odudu, Forcados, Qua Iboe, and Utapate, and transported via the refinery’s Single Point Mooring systems.

Of the eight shipments, five have been fully discharged, while three are still awaiting berthing or completion, reflecting a steady inflow of crude into the facility.

Despite the increased supply, the refinery continues to face shortfalls, as it requires about 19 cargoes monthly to operate at optimal capacity. This comes amid recent reports that Nigeria imported over 55 million barrels of crude in the first two months of 2026.

A breakdown of the April deliveries shows multiple vessels contributing significant volumes, including shipments from Anyala, Bonga, Odudu, and Forcados fields. Additional cargoes from Bonga, Utapate, and Qua Iboe are still in progress.

In total, NNPC Trading supplied 1,033,332 metric tonnes of crude during the period, a level industry observers describe as a strong and sustained commitment to supporting refinery operations.

Beyond crude supply, the refinery also received several shipments of refined products and blending components from international markets, including gasoline, premium motor spirit (PMS), and naphtha from the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Togo, and the Netherlands. Some additional shipments are still pending.

Further support came from both international and domestic crude suppliers, with cargoes arriving from the United States and Cameroon, alongside local deliveries from fields such as Ugo Ocha, Escravos, and Anyala.

Operational records show improved efficiency at the refinery’s offshore terminals, with most vessels berthing and discharging within one to two days.

The Dangote refinery, Africa’s largest single-train facility, is expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products by refining local crude into petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and other derivatives.

NNPC has remained central to the refinery’s crude supply under evolving commercial arrangements in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.

Earlier, President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, disclosed that the refinery received 10 crude cargoes from NNPC in March—double the average monthly supply since late 2024—with a mix of naira- and dollar-denominated transactions aimed at boosting fuel availability.