The Dangote Refinery, the largest crude processing plant in Africa, is preparing to ship its first gasoline cargo beyond the continent, with a vessel reportedly bound for Asia, a source told Reuters on Wednesday. The 90,000-metric-ton cargo is scheduled to be loaded on June 22 by Swiss oil trading firm Mercuria Energy Group. According to the source, this marks the refinery’s first gasoline export outside West Africa since it launched commercial fuel production.
Launched in 2024 with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery has concentrated its exports within West Africa. Its latest move suggests a broader ambition to expand into the international energy market. The company explained the change as a strategic decision driven by economic factors, noting that sales are directed toward buyers offering the most competitive prices, with the destination determined by the purchaser.
Dangote had been supplying petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, playing a key role in lowering those nations’ dependence on fuel imports from Europe.
The refinery steadily increased its purchases of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude in recent months, driven by both logistical benefits and technical advantages. As reported by the Punch, Randy Hurburun, a senior refinery analyst at Energy Aspects, told Bloomberg that WTI produces greater reformate output and offers superior qualities for gasoline blending.
The refinery commenced operations in January last year, initially producing diesel and naphtha, with gasoline output beginning in September. It is projected to fully meet Nigeria’s domestic demand for refined petroleum products while also generating excess volumes for export.
As stated by industry analysts, this latest export development reflects increasing confidence in the refinery’s performance and the quality of its output, even as it continues to scale up in phases toward full operational capacity.
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