Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, the largest on the continent, has intensified shipments of gasoline and urea to African countries facing supply shortages due to disruptions linked to the Iran war.
Aliko Dangote confirmed that the refinery, operating at a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is playing a key role in mitigating the effects of the crisis both domestically and across the region.
During a visit to the facility near Lagos, Dangote assured, “We have the ability to supply fuel to Nigeria and most countries in West, Central, and East Africa.”
Rising demand from Africa
In March, reports indicated that African governments were increasing their inquiries at the refinery as they sought to secure fuel supplies amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
The refinery has delivered around 17 gasoline cargoes to various African nations, while urea exports have also been scaled up to meet growing demand from buyers seeking alternative sources. Dangote noted that fertiliser shipments are now being increasingly redirected to African markets, though he did not provide exact figures.
The plant has the capability to produce up to 3 million metric tons of urea annually, most of which is usually exported to the United States and South America.
Even with the expanded exports, fuel prices in Nigeria, itself an oil-producing country, have reached record levels, as the increased refinery output has not fully countered the effects of rising global crude prices.
Dangote mentioned that the refinery is working to secure more crude supplies priced in local currency to help bring down costs and ease pressure on domestic fuel prices.