Dangote Refinery Begins Export of Fuel to West African Countries

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has started exporting refined petroleum products to neighboring West African nations, a development that could disrupt regional fuel markets.

A report by Bloomberg on Tuesday, citing data from Vortexa, Kpler, Precise Intelligence, and ship-tracking platforms, revealed that a tanker, CL Jane Austen, recently transported over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from the refinery to waters off the coast of Togo.

Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority Chairman, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, had previously announced the country’s interest in sourcing petroleum products from the refinery to reduce reliance on costly European imports. He explained that importing from Nigeria would cut freight costs, which currently cost Ghana $400 million monthly.

Other African countries, including Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, are reportedly in advanced discussions to lift fuel from the Dangote Refinery. Talks are also underway with Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, according to a credible source.

The shipment to Togo signals the refinery’s increasing capacity to meet regional demand. While the cargo is currently floating off Lomé’s coast, a common site for ship-to-ship fuel transfers, its final destination remains unclear.

The refinery, which recently shipped its first gasoline cargo to Lagos, could play a critical role in reducing Africa’s dependence on European and U.S. fuel imports. However, its full export potential remains uncertain as Nigeria’s domestic market continues to rely on imported fuel.

The Federal Government recently ended the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s monopoly on domestic fuel purchases from the refinery, aligning with regulatory reforms.

The Dangote Refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has yet to respond to requests for comments on its operations or export plans.