Buhari, five African Presidents to commission Dangote Petroleum Refinery today

In an epoch-making event that will positively transform Nigeria’s oil and gas sectoral landscape, President Muhammadu Buhari will today commission Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, the world’s largest single train refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos; alongside his counterparts from Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Niger, and Chad.

 

Promoted by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) is sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and will provide employment to over 100,000 persons. The coming onstream of the gigantic project is expected to mark Nigeria’s exit from the league of oil-rich nations that are heavy importers of petroleum products.

 

Expected at the historic event apart from international dignitaries are the Presidents of Togo, Gnassingbé Eyadéma; Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo; President of Senegal, Macky Sall; President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, President of Chad, Mahamat Déby and a host of ambassadors

 

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who will not be physically present, will present his goodwill message virtually.

 

As of the time of filing this report, all the 36 state governors and most of the governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industries in Nigeria and others from outside the country, global oil traders, top international bankers, international multilateral agencies have indicated their readiness to grace the ceremony.

 

Nigeria’s President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration as the governor of Lagos in 2002 floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki where the Refinery is located, is expected to be at the event.

 

The commissioning of Dangote Petroleum Refinery is significant given that it is the first time that a refinery of such magnitude built by an individual is being commissioned.

 

Dangote’s petroleum refinery is expected to meet the needs of Nigerian consumers and those in neighbouring countries while allowing for exports beyond the African continent. The refinery will drive the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as over 50 countries in the trade bloc depend on imported refined petroleum products.

 

According to the Facts Sheet on Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the new Refinery can meet 100% of the Nigerian requirement for all refined products (Gasoline, 53 million litres per day; Diesel, 34 million litres per day; Kerosene, 10 million litres per day, and Aviation Jet, 2 million litres per day) and also have a surplus of each of these products for export.

 

“The refinery is designed for 100% Nigerian Crude with the flexibility to process other crudes. It has a self-sufficient marine facility with the ability for freight optimisation and the largest single order of 5 SPMs anywhere in the world. Diesel and Gasoline Products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications.

 

“The refinery design complies with World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms. State-of-the-art technology. Designed to process a large variety of crudes including many of the African Crudes, some of the Middle Eastern Crudes and the US Light Tight Oil,” the Facts sheet added.

 

It also stated: “65 Million Cubic Metres of sand dredged costing approximately Euros 300 million, using the world’s largest, the second largest and the tenth largest dredgers to elevate the height by 1.5 metres, to insure against any potential impact of the increase in mean sea level due to global warming. Bought over 1,209 units of various equipment to enhance the local capacity for site works.

 

“332 cranes to build up equipment installation capacity. Built the world’s largest granite quarry to supply coarse aggregate, stone column material, stone base, stone dust & material for break water. (10 million tonnes per year production capacity).

 

“Developed a port and constructed two quays with a load-bearing capacity of 25 tonnes/ sq metres to bring Over Dimensional Cargoes close to the site directly. The company also constructed two more quays in the port with a capacity to handle up to Panamax vessels to export fertiliser and petrochemicals and two quays to handle liquid cargoes. The port will thus have 6 quays, including a Roll-on/Roll-off quay”, the sheet added.

Meanwhile, The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described the just completed Dangote Refinery as “a continental game changer with a huge capacity to positively transform Nigeria and African economy”

 

In a congratulatory message to the Chairman of Dangote Holdings, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Governor Adeleke noted that the completion of the refinery within such a record time signals a new era of energy sufficiency for Nigeria and Africa, noting specifically that “the new facility will service Africa and boost local and continental GDP”

 

Praising Dangote’s ingenuity behind the conception and implementation of the project, the Governor testified that the successful completion is an affirmation of the business acumen and integrity of the Chairman of Dangote Holdings, a personality he said has become “a major propeller of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA).

 

” By his extensive investment across Africa and by his latest accomplishment with this biggest refinery on the continent, Alhaji Dangote is unarguably the patron of AfCTA, a facilitator of intra and inter-African trade, an enabler of Africans trading with Africans and mobiliser of African capital serving Africa”, Governor Adeleke declared.

 

Governor Adeleke who described Alhaji Dangote as a blessing to the black world said the refinery project remains a landmark initiative, a gift of Africa to world business and a declaration of Nigeria’s emergence as a global player in the old and new business order.

Also, Mr Clement Isong, Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), says Dangote Refinery through its production and ancillary industries will contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth.

Isong said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Isong also said that the facility would help to reduce the cost of petrol, if the government ended up deregulating the commodity.

He said: “All Nigerians look forward to the future with the hope and conviction that this refinery will contribute significantly to the growth of the economy.

 

“This is through the production from the refinery and its ancillary industries.

 

“The fertilizer plant will impact our agriculture and provide indirect opportunities for the West African sub-region.

 

“The high-quality petroleum products, which meet Afri 6 standards, are excellent for health and environmental protection.”

 

Isong said that the size and location of the refinery would help manage price volatility and optimise logistic costs.

 

According to him, no doubt that such a massive undertaking would have been properly planned for efficiency in product evacuation and optimisation.

 

“Competition, free markets, and private sector participation lead on their own to market efficiencies.

 

“Other refineries in the country will have to compete, and this is good for the consumers as well as the economy.

 

“They will compete in price, in product quality, and in customer service delivery,” Isong added.

 

NAN reports that Dangote Refinery, established by a business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 22 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

 

The Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery will help boost the Federal Government’s efforts in ensuring Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in the local refining of crude oil.

 

The 650,000 barrels per day refinery will also help to save the scarce foreign exchange used in the importation of petroleum products.

 

For a better society

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