Dangote Refinery Commences Fuel Exports to African Countries Amidst Middle East Conflict. Lagos, Nigeria — Lead Paragraph: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest, has announced the start of fuel exports to various African countries, attributing the move to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has caused a surge in global oil prices.
The conflict has disrupted oil deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to increased demand for alternative fuel sources.
The Dangote Refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has sold 12 cargoes totaling 456,000 tonnes of fuel to countries including Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo.
The refinery, located east of Lagos, has a daily capacity of 650,000 barrels, allowing it to meet and exceed Nigeria’s domestic fuel demands.
According to a statement from the Dangote Refinery, the decision to export fuel was primarily driven by the Middle East war and the subsequent increase in demand from neighboring and other economies.
A refinery spokesman told AFP that there have been requests even outside Africa, particularly for jet fuel, although specific details were not provided.
In Nigeria, the price of petrol has recently surged from 830 naira a litre in Lagos to over 1,300 naira, reflecting the impact of the global oil price rise. Initially, Dangote had pledged to prioritize the domestic market to prevent fuel shortages and limit the impact on prices.
Prior to the opening of the Dangote Refinery in 2024, Nigeria was almost entirely reliant on fuel imports, leading to recurrent shortages.
The commencement of fuel exports by the Dangote Refinery is expected to contribute to enhancing energy security in West, East, and Central Africa.
However, the long — term implications of the Middle East conflict on global oil prices and energy security remain to be seen.
Further details are expected as the situation develops.
