Nigeria is reaching a new milestone in its energy strategy. For the first time, a shipment of 90,000 tons of gasoline produced by the Dangote refinery will be heading to Asia, marking the country’s first export outside of West Africa since the launch of the mega-oil facility.
Since its commissioning in 2024, the refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, had previously reserved its exports for West African markets. This shift in direction reflects a growing ambition to establish itself on the global energy stage.
According to Reuters, the Swiss company Mercuria Energy Group, specializing in oil and petroleum product trading, is expected to load the cargo on June 22nd.
A spokesperson for the refinery justified this decision based on economic imperatives. “We sell to those who offer the best prices. The buyer is free to choose their final destination.”
For some observers, this operation marks a strategic turning point. Clementine Wallop, director of the Horizon Engage firm, believes that “it demonstrates the growing influence of the Dangote refinery as a global player, and a certain stability in production allowing to first meet the local needs of Nigeria.”
This development strengthens the position of the refinery, considered the largest in Africa, in Nigeria’s goal to reduce its fuel imports while diversifying its international markets.
