By Prejula Prem (Bloomberg) Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, larger than any other refinery in Africa or Europe, has shipped its first seaborne gasoline cargo as its critical fuel production equipment continues to ramp up.
The Sabek sailed from Dangote to the nearby commercial hub of Lagos in recent days carrying about 500,000 barrels of gasoline, according to port reports and ship tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, the refinery’s residual fluid catalytic cracking unit, an important piece of fuel production equipment, continues to increase production, according to a person familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity.
A spokesperson for Dangote did not respond to a request for comment.
Once fully operational, the 650,000 barrel-per-day plant could transform the region’s gasoline market and reduce the need for fuel imports from Europe to West Africa. It has already shaken up oil flows by cutting excess supply from Nigeria.
This first ocean shipment comes about a month after the new refinery began using trucks to transport gasoline.
RFCC units in refineries help upgrade petroleum products to more valuable fuels such as gasoline.
By Prejula Prem, Jack Wittels and Anthony Osae-Brown © 2024 Bloomberg LP
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