The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has started producing aviation fuel and diesel.
Petrol, also known as Petroleum Motor Spirit, has not yet been produced by the refinery.
Anthony Chiejina, the Chief Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote Group, had verified the start of operations to our correspondent late on Friday.
The Dangote Group clarified that it has “commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel” in an early-morning announcement on Saturday.
“Elatedly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and encouragement, towards the actualization of this project” stated Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group.
According to reports, he also expressed gratitude to Nigerians for their support and belief in what he referred to as the historic initiative, as well as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority
“We thank President Bola Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true. This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to details.
“This is a big day for Nigeria. We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone. This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects. This is a game changer for our country,” Dangote was quoted as having said.
The statement posted on the Dangote Group X handle added that the Dangote Refinery “can load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries.
“The products from the Refinery will conform to Euro V specifications. The refinery design complies with the World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and DPR emission/effluent norms.”
It was initially stated that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was set to start processing Automotive Gas Oil, commonly referred to as diesel, and JetA1 or aviation fuel, in January 2024, but the manufacturing of petrol was being delayed by the supply of crude oil in stages.
Situated in the Dangote Industries Free Zone, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Project is a 650,000 barrels per day crude oil refinery and a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Limited.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is situated in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, covering an area of over 2,635 hectares and having a capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The plant has now received six shipments totaling one million barrels of crude oil.
Nigerians are hopeful that the refinery will bring about a reduction in the price of petroleum products.