President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday, May 22, commission Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, the world’s largest single-train refinery, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.

Promoted by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the petroleum refinery with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) is sitting on 2,635 hectares of land located in Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, and will provide employment to over 100,000 persons.

The coming onstream of the gigantic project is expected to mark Nigeria’s exit from the league of oil-rich nations that are heavy importers of petroleum products.

Expected at the historic event apart are the President of Togo, Gnassingbe Eyadema; Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo; the President of Senegal, Macky Sall; President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, and the President of Chad, Mahamat Deby; among others.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, who will not be physically present, will present his goodwill message virtually.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: 26 facts about Dangote Petroleum Refinery 

Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration as the governor of Lagos in 2002 floated the Free Trade Zone in Ibeju-Lekki where the refinery is located, is expected to be at the event.

The company, in a statement made available to The Star on Sunday, May 21, said all the 36 state governors and most of the governors-elect, ministers, senators, and captains of industries in Nigeria, and others from outside the country, global oil traders, top international bankers, international multilateral agencies have indicated their readiness to grace the ceremony.

The commissioning of Dangote Petroleum Refinery is significant given that it is the first time that a refinery of such magnitude built by an individual is being commissioned.

Dangote’s petroleum refinery is expected to meet the needs of Nigerian consumers and those in neighbouring countries, while allowing for exports beyond the African continent. The refinery will drive the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as over 50 countries in the trade bloc depend on imported refined petroleum products.

According to the Facts Sheet on Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the new Refinery can meet 100 per cent of the Nigerian requirement of all refined products (Gasoline, 53 million litres per day; Diesel, 34 million litres per day; Kerosene, 10 million litres per day, and Aviation Jet, 2 million litres per day) and also have surplus of each of these products for export.

“The refinery is designed for 100% Nigerian Crude with flexibility to process other crudes. It has self-sufficient marine facility with ability for freight optimisation, and the largest single order of 5 SPMs anywhere in the world. Diesel and Gasoline Products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications.

“The refinery design complies with World Bank, US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms. State-of-the-art technology. Designed to process large variety of crudes including many of the African Crudes, some of the Middle Eastern Crudes and the U.S. Light Tight Oil,” the facts sheet added.

The Star