Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja, alongside agency reports, has shared some exciting news about Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, which is now the largest in both Africa and Europe. Recently, the refinery successfully shipped its first seaborne petrol cargo, marking a significant milestone in its production operations, as reported by Bloomberg.
The vessel Sabaek departed with approximately 500,000 barrels of petrol from Dangote, headed for the commercial center of Lagos, according to ship-tracking data and port reports. A reliable source has indicated that the refinery’s residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC)—a critical component in fuel production—is steadily increasing its output.
While Dangote representatives have not yet provided comments on this development, experts suggest that once the refinery reaches full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, it is poised to revolutionize the regional petrol market. This shift could significantly lessen West Africa’s reliance on petrol imports from Europe.
The report also highlights how the refinery has begun to influence crude oil flows by alleviating a surplus of Nigerian supply. Notably, this first maritime shipment comes just a month after the refinery initiated gasoline transportation via trucks. The RFCC unit plays an essential role in enhancing petroleum products into higher-value fuels like gasoline, according to Bloomberg.
