The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on Monday, announced its readiness to commence production of refined petroleum products as it received the 6th batch of one million barrels of crude oil required by the plant for its initial operations.

“Dangote refinery appears set to commence production of refined petroleum products with the receipt of the sixth batch of barrels of crude supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited,” the firm stated in a statement issued on Monday.

It said the fresh one million Agbami barrels of crude via MT ALMI SUN was the last cargo to complete the initial scheduled six million barrels consignment to be delivered to the Dangote facility for the commencement of operations by the world’s largest single-train refinery.

Exactly a month ago, Dangote refinery received the first one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited, one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria as well as globally, trading in over eight million barrels of crude oil per day.

Since then, Dangote refinery has been receiving the crude oil in batches, and the 6th batch of one million barrels of Agbami crude, got discharged on Monday at the Single Point Mooring at the Dangote Offshore Oil Terminal.

The Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Akin Omole, had told newsmen at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos that the refinery would be in good stead to commence operation, once the six million barrels of crude had been delivered.

Omole said, “Once the six million barrels are fully delivered, it will facilitate the initial run of the refinery as well as kick-start the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit.”

This latest development will play a pivotal role in alleviating the fuel supply challenges faced by Nigeria as well as the West African countries.

Designed for 100 per cent Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes, the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery can process most African crude grades as well as Middle Eastern Arab Light and US Light tight oil as well as crude from other countries.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and has a surplus of each of these products for export, according to the company.