The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has disclosed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is now 97 percent completed.
The refinery, with 650,000 barrels per-day installed
capacity, is expected to double the total output of Nigeria’s existing ailing
refining infrastructure and meet 100 per cent of the country’s requirement of all refined
products.
The NMDPRA made this disclosure in Abuja when
representatives of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery visited it to present the
work plan for the facility for 2022/2023 as the regulatory agency for the
sector.
The successful completion of Africa’s biggest petroleum
refinery and the world’s largest single-train facility is expected to have a
significant impact on Nigeria’s foreign exchange market through import
substitution and substantial savings in earnings.
It is expected that once the refinery commences production,
the pressure on the nation’s currency will reduce as a significant inflow of
forex is expected to come in through sales from the refinery.
NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, reiterated the
importance of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to the country while assuring that
the Authority will give all necessary support to ensure timely completion and
kick-start operations.
Speaking on the refinery project, Group Executive Director,
Strategy, Portfolio Development & Capital Projects, Dangote Industries
Limited, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, said it (the refinery) would stimulate economic
development in Nigeria, adding that it can meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s
requirement of all liquid products (Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene and Aviation
jet), and also have a surplus of each of these products for export.
“The high volume of petrol output from the refinery would
transform Nigeria from a petrol import-dependent country to an exporter of
refined petroleum products,” he stated, adding that the refinery would produce
Euro-V quality gasoline, diesel, jet-fuel, kerosene and poly-propylene for
local consumption and also have surplus of each of the products for export.
On employment generation, he disclosed that over 30,000
people are currently working at the Petroleum Refinery project sites through
various contractors noting that when operational, the refinery will generate
over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs for the youths.
The refinery design, according to the company, conforms with
the World Bank, United States (US), United States Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), the European Union (EU), and the Nigerian Midstream and
Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) standards.
He said Dangote industries has developed a port and
constructed quays with a loading bearing capacity of 25 tonnes/sq meters to
bring Over Dimensional Cargoes close to the site directly to handle liquid
cargoes. The jetty is situated at a distance of 12.3 km from the refinery,
thereby effectively reducing the travel time.
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