Dangote Petroleum Refinery has made significant strides in its international operations, with recent exports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa.
This announcement was made by the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Dr. Devakumar Edwin, during a visit by a delegation from the Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo.
“In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa among others. Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to European markets. Our products are already making their mark internationally,” Dr. Edwin stated.
He emphasized that the Dangote Group’s mission is to leverage Africa’s vast crude oil resources to produce refined products locally, which will stimulate industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity across the continent.
Dr. Edwin also highlighted the refinery’s proud heritage, noting that it is the vision of Nigerian investor Aliko Dangote.
“It is a point of pride that a Nigerian company not only designed but also built the world’s largest single-train refinery complex,” he remarked.
The refinery was designed and built by Nigerians and serves the global market.
Dangote Industries Limited also acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the refinery.
Reaffirming the company’s commitment to innovation, Dr. Edwin assured the delegation of Dangote’s openness to collaboration and continuous efforts to maintain the highest standards.
“Even now, we have a lot of Japanese equipment inside both the refinery and the fertiliser plant.
“There are significant opportunities for collaboration, as we always seek the latest technology in any business we engage in.
“For instance, our cement plant laboratory is managed by robots, and we always embrace advanced technology.
“With Japan’s focus on technological innovation, there is ample scope for cooperation and for supplying various types of technology.”
He also noted that the Dangote Petrochemical project will create immense value by boosting investment in downstream industries, generating employment, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflows, and contributing to Nigeria’s GDP.
Japan’s Ambassador-designate, Suzuki Hideo, praised the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex, calling it “an astonishing masterpiece” that highlights Nigeria’s technological achievements on the global stage. He further remarked that the refinery has reinforced Nigeria’s position as the gateway to Africa.
The delegation, which toured both the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertilizers, commended the state-of-the-art technology employed at the facility, emphasizing the importance of such projects for Nigeria’s international stature.
Takashi Oku, Managing Director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), also expressed admiration for the refinery’s scale and innovation. “We had heard about the excellence of the Dangote Refinery through the media but seeing it in person has left us truly amazed by its vastness and grandeur.
It demonstrates that Nigeria’s population is not only growing but also advancing in technology. We are keen to collaborate with Nigerian companies, especially Dangote Refinery,” Oku said.
He emphasized that the facility, as the world’s largest single-train refinery, stands as a symbol of Nigeria’s technological progress.
Masahiro Tsuno, Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, called the Dangote Refinery “a miracle and one of the wonders of the world.”
Tsuno, who has seen refineries globally, was awestruck by its sheer scale, stating, “I have seen many standalone refineries across the globe, including in Vietnam and the Middle East.
However, this size of a refinery built by one single investor is probably a miracle in the world. And I’m just actually witnessing a miracle, to be honest, today.”
He further stated that Itochu Nigeria Limited would seek collaboration with the refinery in various sectors, including polypropylene and other petroleum products.
