Dangote Refinery Sources Ghana Crude Amid Production Questions, RFCC Unit Maintenance Reported

Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery has, for the first time, imported crude oil from Ghana, signaling a shift toward greater supply flexibility amid ongoing scrutiny of its operational performance. The refinery, a $20 billion mega-project aimed at transforming fuel supply across West Africa, is currently processing around 450,000 barrels per day (kbd), representing approximately 70% of its designed capacity, according to global analytics firm Kpler.

This output marks an increase from roughly 400 kbd, or 60% of capacity, recorded in the first quarter of 2025, but still falls short of the refinery’s full potential. Kpler noted that August crude receipts included five Nigerian Suezmaxes, two U.S. Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), and the single Ghanaian cargo, emphasizing Dangote’s commitment to diversifying beyond traditional Nigerian and American light sweet grades. Brass River crude also returned to the refinery’s slate after nearly a year of absence.

While July saw a record intake of 570 kbd driven by U.S. light sweet crude, August volumes dropped to approximately 450 kbd. Kpler attributed the decline to ongoing maintenance at the refinery’s Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU), an essential facility for converting heavy crude into gasoline and other refined products. Despite this, Dangote Industries has denied reports of technical setbacks.

Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, described reports of RFCC difficulties as “untrue” and “speculative,” affirming that refinery operations are proceeding as planned. Chiejina did not immediately confirm the Ghana crude imports, but emphasized the refinery’s commitment to meeting regional fuel demand without disruption. Earlier, a senior refinery executive told S&P Global Platts that the RFCC unit had completed work and was set to resume normal operations by August 24.

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s Sonara refinery plans to partially restore the long-idle Limbe Refinery by 2027 after an eight-year shutdown caused by fire. The move is expected to increase competition for Dangote and other regional refiners, highlighting the growing stakes in West Africa’s fuel market as countries seek to strengthen local refining capacity and reduce import dependence.

Source: The Guardian