Dangote Refinery Broadens Feedstock Mix with First Ghanaian Crude Shipment
Lagos, Nigeria — The Dangote Refinery has imported crude oil from Ghana for the first time, marking a milestone in its evolving feedstock strategy as it works to stabilise operations and reach full capacity.
The $20 billion facility, the largest single-train refinery in the world, is currently processing around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd)—about 70 percent of its nameplate 650,000 bpd capacity—according to data from global energy analytics firm Kpler. This is up from 400,000 bpd reported in the first quarter, but still below early expectations.
The inaugural Ghanaian cargo was Sankofa crude, a medium-sweet grade with an API gravity of 29 and sulfur content of 0.3 percent. Kpler’s August data also showed the refinery took delivery of five Nigerian Suezmaxes, two U.S. Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), and one shipment from Ghana.
The refinery is also diversifying further. Nigerian Brass River crude, absent from the refinery’s intake for nearly a year, has recently returned. Meanwhile, U.S. light sweet crude overtook Nigerian grades in July, when intake volumes peaked at 570,000 bpd before dipping back in August due to maintenance.
Kpler attributed the slowdown to work on the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU), essential for converting heavier fractions into gasoline and other high-value products. Dangote officials, however, denied any serious technical setbacks, framing the dip as part of routine operations.
Industry watchers say the new sourcing mix reflects the refinery’s growing flexibility in balancing domestic, regional, and international supply. With its massive output capacity, the refinery is expected to significantly reduce West Africa’s reliance on imported refined products once it reaches stable, full operations.
