The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant is preparing to begin fuel exports to South Africa, Angola, and Namibia, with negotiations in advanced stages, according to an exclusive report from an inside source.
The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is also in talks with four additional African countries—Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic. This expansion comes as the $20 billion Lekki-based refinery sees growing interest from African nations seeking to reduce reliance on European imports.
Ghana is among those already in discussions with Dangote Refinery, aiming to cut its $400 million monthly fuel import costs. Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority Chairman, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, confirmed ongoing talks with Dangote to secure a supply agreement.
In Nigeria, however, fuel marketers have expressed concerns over what they claim are high prices from Dangote. Local marketers, represented by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), are pushing for approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to import cheaper fuel independently.
Despite Dangote’s readiness to meet Nigeria’s fuel demands, local marketers argue that importing fuel could provide temporary relief for consumers affected by price increases after subsidy removal. However, the NMDPRA clarified that only individual companies—not associations—are eligible for import licenses, requiring each marketer to apply independently.
Dr. Joseph Obele, National Public Relations Officer of PETROAN, has raised concerns about what he calls Dangote’s market “monopoly,” urging Nigerians to support efforts to diversify fuel suppliers. He emphasized that opening the market to competition could lower fuel prices, benefiting consumers.
As discussions unfold, Dangote Refinery’s regional expansion in fuel exports may position it as a major player in the African energy sector, even as domestic concerns over pricing and market access continue to spark debate.
