Dangote Imports Crude Oil From Ghana, Eases Production Concerns
By Newsroom
For the first time, Dangote Refinery has acquired crude oil from Ghana, indicating a planned effort to diversify its sources.
This move comes amid rising concerns about the reliability of the refinery’s operations.
According to market intelligence firm Kpler, the refinery is now functioning at about 450,000 barrels per day (kbd), which is nearly 70% of its intended capacity.
This represents an improvement from the 400 kbd (60%) during the first quarter, yet it still does not meet the anticipated performance for Africa’s largest refinery.
The facility recently began using Ghana’s Sankofa crude oil, which is a medium-sweet variety with an API gravity of 29 and contains 0.3% sulfur, as part of its feedstock.
In August, Dangote took delivery of five Suezmax tankers from Nigeria, two Very Large Crude Carriers from the United States, and one cargo from Ghana.
Kpler highlighted the reintroduction of Brass River crude, which had been missing from Dangote’s production list for almost a year. This emphasizes the company’s increasing effort to diversify its supply sources beyond just Nigerian and American light sweet crude.
Meanwhile, Cameroon’s Sonara has revealed intentions to have its Limbe Refinery operational again by 2027, following eight years of inactivity due to a fire. If the refinery resumes operations, it could heighten the competitive landscape for Dangote in West and Central Africa.