The much awaited Dangote Refinery has at last started full operation with the production of diesel and aviation fuel only
The refinery is yet to Commence Production of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.
Late Friday evening, the Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, confirmed the commencement of operations to newsmen.
This was followed by a statement in the early hours of Saturday, clarifying that it has indeed “commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel.”
It would be recalled that earlier report had it that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was set to start producing Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel, and JetA1 or aviation fuel, in January 2024, while the production of petrol was being delayed by the supply of crude oil in instalments.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Project, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited, is a 650,000 barrels per day crude oil refinery located in Dangote Industries Free Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
The refinery covers an area of approximately 2,635 hectares and is located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.
Elated by the feat, the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, “elatedly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and encouragement, towards the actualisation of this project.”
He was said to have 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 what he called the historic project.
“We thank President Bola Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true. This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to details.
“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,” Dangote was quoted as having said.
In the same vein, the richest man in Africa, appreciated the group’s bankers and financiers, both local and offshore; while thanking the Government of Lagos State, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the host communities and their traditional rulers.
The statement posted on the Dangote Group X handle added that the Dangote Refinery “can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.
“The products from the Refinery will conform to Euro V specifications. The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and DPR emission/effluent norms.”
So far, the facility has received six shipments of one million barrels each of crude oil, with the hope the refinery added to the production of government owned refineries and other modular refineries, will bring about a reduction in the price of petroleum products.