Africa’s largest oil refinery, Dangote Refinery, has achieved a significant milestone with the successful shipment of its first jet fuel cargo to Europe. This marks another first for the new complex, which has been rapidly scaling up production since its launch in April 2023.
The inaugural shipment which was loaded onto the “Doric Breeze” vessel, departed from the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos on May 27th and is currently en route to Rotterdam, Netherlands. According to S&P Global Commodities at Sea data, the cargo contains 45,000 metric tons of jet fuel.
The jet fuel cargo was awarded to BP as part of a 120,000-metric-ton tender offered by the refinery. Spanish refiner Cepsa also secured a portion of the tender and is expected to deliver jet fuel to the continent soon.
This shipment is the latest milestone achieved by Dangote Refinery in recent months. The company has already exported six jet fuel/kerosene cargoes, all delivered to Senegal, Togo, or Ghana.
According to S&P, Dangote Refinery is currently projecting its first gasoline supplies to begin in June. Ultra-low sulfur diesel is expected to be eligible for export to Europe by the third quarter.
Dangote Refinery has exported naphtha, fuel oil, and gasoil to markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, naphtha exports could soon be curtailed to prepare for gasoline production.
A representative for Dangote Refinery told Commodity Insights on May 20 that naphtha exports could be reduced to boost domestic supplies for gasoline blending once the plant’s fluid catalytic cracker is operational.
Dangote Refinery has been exporting around four cargoes of naphtha each month to Europe since April, but volumes may be curbed soon to prioritize domestic supplies. This development marks a significant step forward for the refinery, which is poised to become a major player in the global oil and gas industry.
