The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially started exporting refined petroleum products to neighboring West African countries, marking a milestone in its operations that could reshape regional fuel markets. According to a Bloomberg report, a shipment of gasoline was recently exported to waters off the coast of Togo, indicating that the mega-refinery’s influence may soon extend beyond Nigeria’s borders.
Data from sources including Vortexa, Kpler, and ship-tracking platform Precise Intelligence revealed that the tanker CL Jane Austen loaded over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from the Dangote Refinery before setting sail westward. The shipment underscores the refinery’s readiness to enter the regional market in a big way.
In a sign of regional interest, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Authority (NPA), stated last month that Ghana is exploring petroleum imports from the Dangote Refinery to cut costs from expensive European imports. Abdul-Hamid, speaking at the OTL Africa Downstream Oil Conference in Lagos, noted that the switch to importing fuel from Nigeria could significantly lower prices in Ghana by reducing freight costs.
“If the refinery reaches 650,000 barrels per day capacity, all that volume cannot be consumed by Nigeria alone,” Abdul-Hamid said. “Instead of us importing as we do right now from Rotterdam, it will be much easier for us to import from Nigeria, and I believe that will bring down our prices.”
The potential impact of Dangote’s operations extends beyond Ghana. Reports suggest that fuel exports are planned for South Africa, Angola, and Namibia, with advanced-stage negotiations underway. Additionally, Niger Republic, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic are reportedly in preliminary talks with the refinery’s management for potential fuel imports.
An industry source confirmed the ongoing talks, saying, “I can confirm to you that talks are actually at the advanced stage with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, while the initial discussion is coming up with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.”
The recently dispatched gasoline shipment is currently floating near Lome, a known hub for ship-to-ship fuel transfers, suggesting that the cargo may be transferred elsewhere. While the shipment’s size is minor compared to the global gasoline market, it signals the Dangote Refinery’s growing production capabilities and potential to significantly alter regional fuel dynamics.
The refinery, which last month shipped its first seaborne gasoline cargo to Lagos, continues to ramp up operations. While large-scale exports remain uncertain, the Federal Government recently ended the state-owned oil company’s monopoly on domestic fuel purchases from the plant, though imports from Europe and the U.S. continue under current regulations.
