In a move to overcome problems with domestic supplies, Dangote Oil Refinery and Petrochemicals has commenced talks with Libya to secure crude oil for the 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) plant and will also seek Angolan oil.

The $20 billion refinery, built by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State is Africa’s largest, and is designed to end Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuels because of insufficient refining capacity.

Since Dangote began operations in January, it has been unable to get adequate crude supplies in Nigeria, which, although Africa’s biggest oil producer, is struggling with theft, pipeline vandalism, and low investment.

Dangote has resorted to importing crude from as far as Brazil and the United States.

“We are talking to Libya about importing crude. We will talk to Angola as well and some other countries in Africa,” Dangote refinery senior executive Devakumar Edwin told Reuters on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

Edwin, who declined to give details about the talks, said international traders and oil companies were among the biggest buyers of Dangote’s gasoil, much of which was being exported.

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“The biggest offtakers are the two big traders Trafigura and Vitol and BP and, to some extent, even TotalEnergies. But all of them are saying they are taking it to offshore,” he added.

Traders and shipping data have shown that Dangote is increasing gasoil exports to West Africa, taking market share from European refiners.

Edwin said Dangote’s oil trading arm was operational, with staff in London and Lagos, to help manage supplies and sell products.

Nigeria’s upstream regulator has clashed with Dangote, saying the sulphur content in its gasoil was above the required limits of 200 parts per million (ppm).

Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote has denied that, saying the sulphur level was higher when production started, but had fallen to 88 ppm and would sink to 10 ppm in early August as output rises.

The Star