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Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to inaugurate the Dangote oil refinery at the Lekki free zone in Lagos on 22 May.

Construction of the facility began in 2016. It is said to be the world’s largest single-train refinery, with a production capacity of about 650,000 barrels of oil per day. The cost of the project rose to US$19 billion, from an earlier estimate of US$12-14 billion.

Aliko Dangote, owner of Dangote Refineries, said, “The refinery’s completion will not only create direct and indirect jobs but also lead to skills transfer and technology acquisition opportunities that will benefit the downstream sector. Moreover, the refinery’s production of critical products like naphtha and polypropylene will stimulate the development of other industries, such as cosmetics, plastics, and textiles."

The refinery complex includes sulphur recovery and hydrogen generation facilities and a polypropylene unit. 

The Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board visited the plant recently. 

1- Today, representatives of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals presented their 2022/2023 work plan to the Authority which showed that the refinery project is estimated to be at 97% completion. pic.twitter.com/439txRc0pe

— NMDPRA (@NMDPRAtweets) October 12, 2022

Upon completion, the refinery is expected to save US$10 billion in foreign exchange and generate at least US$10 billion in exports.

Despite being a major oil producer, Nigeria currently imports over 90% of its refined petroleum product requirements. 

The refinery will produce Euro-V quality gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and polypropylene. 

Photo: The Dangote oil refinery (Twitter-@Engr_Abdulmalik)