Latest News

Nigeria's Dangote refinery materials petroleum items to regional market

Nigeria's Dangote oil refinery started supplying petroleum items to the regional market on Tuesday, a business executive and fuel marketing associations said, a major step in the nation's quest for energy independence.

The refinery, Africa's biggest, was built on a peninsula on the borders of the industrial capital Lagos at an expense of $20. billion by the continent's richest male Aliko Dangote and was. finished after a number of years of delays.

It can improve as much as 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) and will. When it reaches complete, be the largest in Africa and Europe. capacity this or next year.

Dangote's group executive, Devakumar Edwin, verified. shipping of diesel and jet fuel into the local market.

We have substantial amounts. Products are being. evacuated both by sea and road. Ships are lining up one after. another to pack diesel and air travel jet fuel, Edwin told. .

Ships load a minimum of 26 million litres, though we try to. push for 37 million litres vessels, for ease of operations.

Local oil online marketers agreed a price of 1,225 naira ($ 0.96). per litre of diesel following a bulk purchase contract, in the past. putting their mark-up, stated Abubakar Maigandi, head of the. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.

The association's members manage about 150,000 retail. stations throughout Nigeria, Maigandi stated.

Another online marketers' group, the Depots and Petroleum Products. Marketers Association of Nigeria stated its members were seeking. letters of credit to buy petroleum products from Dangote.

Our members are going over with banks and these talks have. reached advanced phases, when we have our letters of credit, we. will start lifting products, Femi Adewole, the association's. executive secretary said.

The Dangote refinery is promoted as the turning indicate end. Nigeria's dependence on imported petroleum products. Nigeria is. Africa's most populous nation and its leading oil manufacturer, yet it. imports practically all its fuel due to absence of refining capability.

(source: Reuters)