Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, has officially announced the commencement of fuel production at his newly operational refinery.
In a recent media briefing, Dangote hailed this development as a pivotal moment for Nigeria, marking the end of the country’s long-standing dependence on imported fuel.
“This refinery will fuel growth, development, and prosperity by supplying energy to our people,” said Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Dangote expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu’s administration for creating a supportive environment that enabled the project’s success.
“I salute the people of Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu’s government for creating the conditions that allowed us to achieve this monumental task. This refinery will drive growth, development, and prosperity by providing energy to our people,” Dangote stated
Dangote praised President Tinubu’s “Naira for crude, Naira for product” initiative, suggesting that it could help stabilize the Naira by reducing the demand for dollars by 40%.
The 650,000 bpd capacity facility began operations in January, producing diesel and aviation fuel.
Dangote assured that the gasoline produced at the facility meets international quality standards.
On August 22, Dangote Petroleum Refinery revealed it was conducting test runs for petrol production, with full-scale operations slated to begin by mid-September.
The refinery’s production start had experienced multiple delays from May to August.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has acknowledged its outstanding debts to petrol suppliers, which has affected its ability to ensure a steady fuel supply.
This has led to persistent fuel queues and a 45% increase in prices since July.
