KEY POINTS

• Dangote Refinery is currently exporting petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola and South Africa.
• They are also shipping refinery diesel and jet fuel to Europe.
• The refinery is seen as a ‘global masterpiece’ and it will boost Nigeria’s industrial capacity.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has exported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known in layman’s language, as petrol, to four African Countries; Cameroon, Ghana, Angola and South Africa.

Speaking during a visit from a Japanese business delegation led by Japan’s Ambassador Designate to Nigeria, Mr. Suzuki Hideo, Dr. Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas for Dangote Industries Limited, announced the milestone to journalists on Thursday.

In addition to exporting petrol, the refinery has been shipping diesel and well as jet fuel to markets worldwide including Europe, Dr. Edwin said.

He stated that they are heavily exporting jet fuel to European markets and distributing diesel worldwide. He said our products have already made their mark internationally.

The Dangote Refinery intends to use Africa’s massive crude oil resources as a means of jump starting a sustainable cycle of industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity, he explained.

‘By refining oil locally the company hopes to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports, increase foreign exchange earnings and also foster local economic growth.’

It’s a global masterpiece by Nigerians, for the world

The Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single train refinery, unmatched by any in the world irrespective, not only demonstrates Nigeria’s industrial potential, but is also an important player in the global oil and gas industry.

Conceptualized, designed and built by a Nigerian company, Dangote Industries, the facility showcases Nigeria’s technical capacity and economic ambition.

During the visit Japanese delegates declared the refinery a marvel of modern engineering, and a technological masterpiece. Takashi Oku, managing director of Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), commended the refinery describing it as a symbol of Nigeria’s place as a gateway to the rest of Africa’s markets.

The Dangote Refinery is huge and beautiful. We had heard about the Dangote Refinery, we had read it on the media, but we could not believe it. We just came here as a group and we are just amazed by the huge refinery and how beautiful it is.” ‘It shows that not only is Nigeria’s population growing but we are advancing in technology as well,’ Oku said.

For his part, the Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, Masahiro Tsuno, said the Dangote Refinery was a miracle in the world and one of the wonders of the world. The scale of the refinery, constructed by one investor, is without precedent for traditional standalone refineries in Vietnam, the Middle East or anywhere else, he said.

To build Nigeria’s GDP

The Dangote Refinery is more than a petrol, diesel and jet fuel export: it will build Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by supporting downstream industries, creating jobs, and reducing the quantity of petroleum product the country has to import.

Dangote Industries Limited intends to promote local expertise while maintaining international standards, through production facilities run by advanced technology and robotics. Another aspect of commitment to global best practices is the Japanese technology it uses while operating.

By being Nigeria’s largest private sector investment, the Dangote Refinery has assured that Nigeria remains a major player in the oil and gas market worldwide. It is part of its export strategy to Africa and Europe that will enable it to transform Nigeria from an oil exporting country to a leading center for petroleum product.