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Key Points
- Dangote Oil Refinery exports petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, marking a key milestone for the $20 billion project.
- The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is the world’s largest single-train facility, boosting global exports of diesel and jet fuel.
- Dangote plans to build a refinery in Angola, further expanding his industrial empire and strengthening Africa's global energy sector.
The Dangote Oil Refinery, owned by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, has started making significant strides in reshaping Africa’s fuel market, exporting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, and South Africa in recent weeks. This marks a major milestone for the $20 billion refinery, which is on track to meet global standards.
“We’ve already sent petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, and there are other markets in the pipeline,” said Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, during a meeting with a Japanese business delegation in Nigeria led by Ambassador-designate Suzuki Hideo.
Edwin highlighted the international reach of the refinery, noting that diesel and jet fuel are being exported globally, including heavy shipments to European markets. “Our products are already making a global impact,” Edwin said. “Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to Europe.”
A Nigerian vision for the world
The Dangote Refinery, located on a Lagos peninsula, is a central part of the Dangote Petrochemical Complex, which also includes a polypropylene plant with an annual capacity of 1 million metric tonnes and two of the world's largest fertilizer trains. With a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, it stands as the largest single-train refinery globally.
Edwin emphasized that the facility was designed and built by Nigerians for a global market, underscoring it as a proud achievement for Dangote Industries. “It’s a testament to what Nigerian innovation can achieve,” he said. This ambition for global reach aligns with Dangote’s broader expansion across Africa, particularly in Angola.
Dangote targets Angola for new refinery
Dangote plans to build a new refinery in Angola, strengthen cement production, and acquire oil blocks after meeting with President João Lourenço.
The Nigerian billionaire, valued at $28.1 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, has launched a subsidiary to manage these investments, making Angola a central hub for his growing empire. This move aligns with his broader goal to transform Africa’s industrial landscape.
Already a cement giant, Dangote aims to expand his influence in the global energy sector with a $20.5 billion refinery. Though the project has faced delays, its long-term goals remain intact, with potential exports to markets like Brazil.
With ventures in sugar, salt, fertilizer, and packaged foods, Dangote is focused on reshaping Africa’s economy through local innovation and manufacturing.
