The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has finally commenced production.
The largest single-train refinery in the world began production in the early hours of Friday, a source told TheCable.
The development comes days after the refinery received its sixth one million barrels of crude cargo required for the commencement of operations.
Five shipments of crude had been earlier delivered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to the refinery.
On December 8, 2023, Dangote received its plant received its maiden one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO).
The refinery, on December 20, 2023, received the second phase of its crude feedstock from the NNPC, with the third shipment of one million barrels of crude oil feedstock from STASCO received on December 29, 2023.
The NNPC supplied the refiner with its fourth and fifth crude shipment respectively on January 1 and 5, 2024.
Akin Omole, managing director of Dangote Ports Operations, had told journalists at the Dangote quay in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, that the receipt of six million barrels of crude would “facilitate the initial run of the refinery as well as kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)”.
The 650,000 bpd capacity refinery was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.
Aliko Dangote had said the refinery has secured a license to refine more than 300,000 barrels of crude per day.
Meanwhile, the NNPC, had in August 2021, acquired a 20 percent minority equity stake in the refinery.
The Cable
