Dangote Refinery is accelerating its shift toward sourcing crude oil from across Africa as supplies from Nigeria continue to decline, marking a significant change in the refinery’s procurement strategy. The 650,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Lekki is now relying more heavily on crude from countries such as Libya, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon to maintain strong production levels. The move highlights the refinery’s determination to secure reliable feedstock while reducing dependence on a single source.
Latest crude tracking data shows that Nigerian crude accounted for 71 percent of the refinery’s feedstock in July, a noticeable drop from 85 percent in June. Although the refinery processed an estimated 595,000 barrels of crude per day in July—slightly below the record 660,000 barrels recorded in June—the figure remains significantly higher than its average throughput in 2025. With several cargoes already scheduled for August, production is expected to remain strong in the coming weeks.
One of the biggest developments has been the refinery’s growing preference for Libya’s Esharara crude. July marked the third consecutive month that the refinery received shipments of the light sweet crude grade, with another one-million-barrel cargo expected to arrive this week. At the same time, imports of U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude have disappeared from Dangote’s supply mix since March, indicating a clear shift toward African crude grades that offer similar refining qualities while strengthening regional energy trade.
Industry analysts say the diversification strategy reflects the refinery’s effort to secure the most commercially competitive crude amid ongoing concerns about the availability and pricing of domestic supplies. Despite Nigeria’s Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) framework, local deliveries have remained inconsistent, encouraging Dangote Refinery to broaden its sourcing network. Since completing maintenance on one of its crude distillation units earlier this year, the refinery has significantly increased crude receipts, averaging about 625,000 barrels per day since April.
Looking ahead, the refinery appears well-positioned to sustain high operating rates as additional cargoes from Nigeria, including Amenam, Qua Iboe, Utapate, and Bonga, are expected to arrive throughout August. The combination of domestic and imported African crude is expected to keep fuel production steady while reinforcing Dangote Refinery’s role as one of Africa’s largest refining hubs. The refinery’s evolving sourcing strategy could also reshape regional crude trade, strengthen energy partnerships across the continent, and influence Nigeria’s future role as a major supplier to its flagship refinery.
source: Business day
