Dangote begins fuel export to Saudi Arabia

Two cargoes of jet fuel, averaging about 130 million litres, have been exported from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Coming on the backdrop of projection by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that the 650,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery would disrupt the global crude and product market, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, described the latest export as an achievement of the goals set by the organisation.

The development may also indicate that Nigeria will be prioritising the Middle East in its ambition to become a refining hub amid the shutdown of refineries in the global north.

Last December, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) disclosed that it sold the first cargo of Port Harcourt Low Sulphur Straight Run fuel oil (LSSR) to Dubai-based Gulf Transport and Trading Limited (GTT). The company reportedly loaded onboard the Wonder Star MR1 ship.

Dangote, in a release after a visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) team to both Dangote Fertiliser Limited and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, said the output from the refinery stands at 550,000bpd.