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Dangote Oil Refinery starts processing gasoline, NNPC to be sole purchaser

Nigeria's Dangote Oil Refinery has actually begun processing gas after delays caused by current crude shortages, an executive stated on Monday.

The $20 billion refinery on the borders of Lagos, constructed by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, started operations in January with output of products consisting of naphtha and jet fuel.

With a capability of 650,000 barrels each day, Africa's largest refinery promises to relieve oil producer Nigeria's expensive reliance on imported oil items.

We are evaluating the item (fuel) and subsequently it will start flowing into the item tanks, said Devakumar Edwin, a vice president at Dangote Industries Limited.

He did not say precisely when the fuel would strike the regional market.

Edwin stated state-oil company NNPC Ltd, Nigeria's sole importer of gasoline, would buy its fuel exclusively.

If no one is buying it, we will export it as we have actually been exporting our aviation jet fuel and diesel, Edwin stated.

The shipment of fuel into the Nigerian market will reduce NNPC's struggle to provide the regional market. The company is reeling with financial obligations of $6 billion to oil traders for supply since January.

This has actually affected its ability to provide the regional market where fuel lines have actually continued since July.

Prices have leapt by 45% from the main price of 617 naira ($ 0.3942) revealed after subsidies were removed last year.

The news that Dangote is processing fuel could not come at a more essential time given NNPC's statement about its troubles securing imported supply due to financial strain, said Clementine Wallop, director, sub-Saharan Africa at political threat consultancy Horizon Engage.

She said this prompts the question of how NNPC will handle purchasing from Dangote, and impresses the need for greater transparency in its financial resources.

Nigeria is Africa's top oil manufacturer yet it imports nearly all its fuel due to years of disregard of its national refineries.

(source: Reuters)