Obanla Ridwan Olawale
The Dangote Group has announced that its oil refinery has commenced petrol production, marking a critical step towards stabilizing Nigeria’s fuel supply. This was confirmed by Anthony Chiejina, Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, in a statement on Monday.
This development follows the refinery’s earlier announcement on August 22 that it was undergoing test runs, with full operations slated to begin by mid-September. The start of production had faced several delays between May and August.
Back in May, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, had projected that the refinery would begin petrol production by June, eliminating the need for Nigeria to import the product. However, minor delays pushed the timeline, with further postponements in July and again in August.
Chiejina’s statement comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with a petrol scarcity crisis, which began in May. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) attributed the shortage to contractual disputes between mother and daughter vessels. The situation worsened on September 1, when reports emerged that the scarcity was linked to a $6 billion debt owed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to suppliers—a debt the NNPC initially denied but later acknowledged.
With Dangote’s refinery now producing petrol, there is hope that the ongoing supply issues in the country may soon be resolved.
