The Dangote Refinery in Lagos has exported two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco, a move analysts say cements its position as a global leader in the refining industry.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, revealed this milestone during a visit by directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) to the refinery . Addressing the delegation, Dangote emphasized the facility’s progress in global energy markets.
“We are already attaining even the ambitious heights we set for ourselves, and we are delighted to let you know that we have just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” he stated.
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest energy company, sourcing fuel from the Dangote refinery underscores the refinery’s quality and scale, analysts note. The transaction follows a similar deal last year when British Petroleum (BP) purchased its first jet fuel cargo from the refinery. The shipment, carried by the vessel Doric Breeze, marked BP’s inaugural purchase of about 45,000 metric tons from the facility.
According to S&P Global, the European shipment demonstrated the refinery’s expanding influence in global markets. With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery has swiftly ramped up operations, challenging traditional West African trade flows.
Early last year, the refinery, built at a cost of approximately $20 billion, issued tenders for its first export cargoes. The initial shipment consisted of 65,000 metric tons of low-sulfur straight-run fuel oil, awarded to Trafigura. This was followed by another tender for approximately 60,000 metric tons of naphtha.
The refinery’s global footprint continued to expand when Singapore, Asia’s oil hub, received its first low-sulphur straight-run fuel oil cargo from Nigeria’s newest refinery. Ship-tracking data and market sources confirmed the shipment, marking a new trade flow from the facility to Asia. The move was particularly significant for Singapore, a region with structural demand for low-sulfur fuel oil to support its position as the world’s largest bunker hub.
Since commencing operations in January last year, the Dangote Refinery has emerged as a key player in the international energy sector, reinforcing Nigeria’s role in the global refining industry.
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