Dangote refinery inches closer to the commencement of test run anytime this week following the receipt of a sixth crude oil cargo yesterday, a development that may eventually begin the billowing from the 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) plant into operation following its inauguration last May. The refinery was built at a cost of $19.5 billion by the President, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote.
The commencement of the test run leading to the start of full refining operation, will make Nigeria, which currently imports most of its fuel, self-sufficient and able to export fuel to neighbours in West Africa. Besides, this will potentially transform oil trading in the Atlantic Basin as Nigeria challenges U.S. and European energy companies that for years have powered the cars, trucks and generators in Africa.
Yesterday’s receipt of the sixth cargo containing one million barrels of oil, came from the Agbami oil field in the Niger Delta, bringing to six million barrels the amount of crude that has been delivered since the first cargo arrived in December.
The next step is to start up the crude distillation unit, which is a major component of the refinery, a senior company executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. That process would “most probably” begin this week, the executive added.
“Subsequently, we will be continuously buying crude and start commissioning the other departments,” said the executive.
“Saleable products will start coming from the first week itself. But, of course, the volume will be limited and the variety of saleable products will also be limited and it will start building up, as each major department gets commissioned.”
Experts say test runs include the different units that make products from gasoline to diesel and making sure they respond to the control panels. It can take months for refineries to move from test runs to producing high-quality fuels at full capacity, according to the experts.
Dangote has said it will start by refining 350,000 bpd and hopes to ramp up to full production later this year.
Muyiwa Lucas The Nation:
