The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially commenced the export of refined petroleum products to neighboring West African nations, marking a significant milestone that could reshape the regional fuel market.
A tanker, identified as the CL Jane Austen, recently transported over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from the Dangote Refinery to waters off the coast of Togo, according to a report by Bloomberg.
This development aligns with earlier statements by Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chairman of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, who indicated that Ghana plans to source petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery in the near future.
Speaking at the OTL Africa Downstream Oil Conference in Lagos, Abdul-Hamid noted that importing fuel from Nigeria instead of Europe could save Ghana up to $400 million per month, while also reducing freight costs and ultimately lowering the prices of goods and services.
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“If the refinery reaches 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity, it won’t be consumed by Nigeria alone. Importing from Nigeria instead of Europe will significantly bring down our costs,” Abdul-Hamid said.
The Dangote Refinery, which has been ramping up its operations, is already in discussions to expand its fuel exports beyond Togo.
Sources indicate that negotiations are in advanced stages with countries including Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. Additionally, talks are underway with nations such as Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.
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A key source close to the refinery confirmed that these discussions are progressing well, highlighting the refinery’s growing influence in regional fuel distribution.
“We are in advanced stages with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, and initial talks are progressing with countries like Niger, Chad, and others,” the source revealed.
Although the first shipment is relatively small by global standards, it signals the refinery’s expanding production capacity and its potential to disrupt fuel markets across West Africa.
Previously, the refinery had shipped its first gasoline cargo to Lagos, marking the start of its domestic fuel distribution.
