The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced the export of refined petroleum products to neighbouring West African nations, signalling its readiness to impact regional fuel markets significantly.
A Bloomberg report on Tuesday, citing data from Vortexa, Kpler, Precise Intelligence, port records, and ship-tracking platforms, confirmed that a shipment of gasoline from the Dangote Refinery was transported to waters off Togo’s coast. The tanker, CL Jane Austen, loaded over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from the refinery and sailed west.
Regional interest in Dangote’s output
Ghana has already expressed interest in sourcing petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery to reduce reliance on expensive European imports, which currently cost the country around $400 million monthly.
At the OTL Africa Downstream Oil Conference in Lagos last month, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Authority, explained how importing from Nigeria could cut freight costs and lower the prices of goods and services.
“If the refinery reaches 650,000 barrels per day capacity, all that volume cannot be consumed by Nigeria alone. Instead of importing from Rotterdam, it will be much easier for us to import from Nigeria, and I believe that will bring down our prices,” Abdul-Hamid said.
Advanced negotiations with multiple nations
The refinery is also in advanced talks to export fuel to South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. Additionally, early-stage negotiations are ongoing with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, according to a credible source.
“Talks are at the advanced stage with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, while initial discussions are underway with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic,” the source disclosed.
Strategic shipping activities
The CL Jane Austen’s cargo is currently floating off the coast of Lomé, Togo, a well-known hub for ship-to-ship transfers. While its final destination remains unclear, the shipment underscores the refinery’s growing production capacity and potential to disrupt regional markets.
This development comes after the refinery shipped its first seaborne gasoline cargo to Lagos last month.
Potential impact on regional fuel markets
Although the current shipments represent a small fraction of the global gasoline market, they mark the beginning of Dangote’s capability to export significant volumes beyond Nigeria.
The Federal Government recently ended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s monopoly on purchasing fuel from the refinery for domestic use. However, it continues to allow fuel imports from Europe and the U.S. under regulatory provisions.
While a Dangote spokesperson declined to comment, the refinery’s exports could reshape fuel trade dynamics in Africa, offering regional economies a more affordable and efficient alternative to European imports.
