There are strong indications that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery may not begin petrol production as planned on Monday, contrary to its earlier schedule. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, previously projected that the refinery would start producing petrol between August 10 and 12, 2024.
Recent findings from The PUNCH suggest that the refinery, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, might not be ready to roll out petrol today. However, multiple officials familiar with the situation confirmed that preparations are in place for the refinery to commence production of the highly anticipated Premium Motor Spirit by the end of August.
A top official close to the refinery, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “All is set. The refinery will roll out petrol this month.” They emphasized the importance of a constant supply of crude oil, noting that the refinery cannot afford to halt operations even for a moment.
Despite the refinery’s readiness, further investigations indicate that the ongoing crude supply crisis could hinder the timely launch of petrol production. This delay is causing anxiety among petrol marketers who are eagerly anticipating the sale of the product this week.
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The PUNCH has reliably learned that the refinery is making significant efforts to ensure petrol production occurs this August, while also awaiting a shipment of 29 million barrels of crude oil from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Sources close to the situation revealed that the refinery is fully prepared to begin petrol production as planned, despite the challenges posed by the crude supply shortage. These sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.
While the refinery aims to meet its production goals, the low supply of crude oil could impact the overall process. The situation remains fluid, and stakeholders are closely monitoring developments.
In summary, while the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is poised to begin petrol production this month, uncertainties surrounding crude oil supply may pose challenges to its operations.
