Dangote refinery finally receives crude oil, ready to start operations

The first shipment of crude oil arrived at the Dangote refinery on Thursday, just in time for the facility to officially open for business.

The arrival of the eagerly anticipated $20 billion plant marks a major accomplishment for the nation’s oil sector.

According to information obtained, on December 6, an OTIS (crude oil) ship loaded with 950,000 barrels of Nigerian Agbami crude sailed towards Lekki, the closest land port to Dangote’s offshore crude receiving station.

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According to a West African oil trader, the tanker, chartered by the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), is the first of Dangote’s inaugural crude supplies as the massive new plant begins to ramp up operations.

By 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, the ship was expected to arrive, marking the start of crude supplies for the refinery’s operations.

Remember that amid anticipation, former President Muhammadu Buhari formally opened the refinery in May.

Expectations for the start of operation had been high following the commissioning.

But there was enthusiasm when the first ship arrived yesterday.

The state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which chartered the Suezmax tanker, represents the first crude supply to Dangote’s cutting-edge refinery as it prepares to start operations.

With the goal of reviving operations, the NNPC recently signed a deal to deliver 6 million barrels of crude oil as feedstock to the Dangote refinery in December. As a result, the NNPC holds a 20% share in the refinery.

One of Nigeria’s largest deepwater operations, Agbami is run by Chevron and has a daily production of about 100,000 barrels per day in the central Niger Delta. Agbami is a well-known light sweet crude with a specific gravity of 47.9 API and a sulphur concentration of 0.04%. It also provides notable amounts of kerosene and naphtha.

According to the oil dealer, NNPC has chartered additional shipments to the refinery from several offshore locations in Nigeria. This marks the start of a series of scheduled crude supplies throughout this month.

Escravos, Bonny Light, and Forcados are the three Nigerian crude grades that the refinery is intended to process simultaneously.

According to a Dangote insider, the refinery’s management has put the necessary equipment in place to accept the consignment.

It was discovered that the management is anticipated to start barging the crude after reaching the Lekki anchorage.

Hopefully, after obtaining the required regulatory approval, we will barge it tomorrow, or today. We will definitely complete all of the clearance today. A ceremony will also be held to accept the shipment. This is a momentous time for our nation and a wonderful and joyful occasion, he declared.