President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to inaugurate the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos on Monday.
In addition to Buhari, six other presidents will be present, including Gnassingbé Eyadéma of Togo, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Macky Sall of Senegal, Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic, Mahamat Déby of Chad, and ambassadors from various countries.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will participate virtually by delivering a goodwill message.
Notably, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, who played a crucial role in establishing the free trade zone where the refinery is situated during his tenure as the governor of Lagos in 2002, is expected to attend the event.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, would also attend the $19 billion Dangote refinery commissioning, along with numerous dignitaries.
Moreover, all 36 state governors, governors-elect, ministers, senators, captains of industries from Nigeria and abroad, global oil traders, top international bankers, and international multilateral agencies have expressed their readiness to participate.
The Dangote Refinery, owned by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, is situated on 2,635 hectares of land in the Dangote Industries Free Zone in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
It has a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) and is expected to generate employment opportunities for over 100,000 people.
This momentous project signifies Nigeria’s departure from the league of oil-rich nations that heavily rely on petroleum product imports.
The commissioning of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery holds significant importance as it marks the first time that an individual has built a refinery of such magnitude.
The refinery aims to meet the demands of Nigerian consumers and neighboring countries while also allowing for exports beyond the African continent.
It will play a crucial role in promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), benefiting over 50 countries within the trade bloc that currently depend on imported refined petroleum products.
According to the Facts Sheet on Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the refinery has the capacity to meet 100% of Nigeria’s refined product requirements, including gasoline (53 million liters per day), diesel (34 million liters per day), kerosene (10 million liters per day), and aviation jet fuel (2 million liters per day).
Additionally, it will have surplus production for export. The refinery is designed to process various crudes, including African, Middle Eastern, and US Light Tight Oil. It adheres to international emission norms and utilizes state-of-the-art technology.
The construction of the refinery involved extensive dredging, acquisition of equipment, and the development of a port facility to support its operations.
The port features quays capable of handling different types of cargoes, including over-dimensional, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and liquid cargoes.
These infrastructure developments will further boost the refinery’s capabilities and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth.
See some photos below:
https://twitter.com/drpenking/status/1660293631633235974?s=20
https://twitter.com/CaptJamyl/status/1660254460189327365?s=20
https://twitter.com/MSIngawa/status/1660411741702856704?s=20
https://twitter.com/Morris_Monye/status/1660575428543672320?s=20
https://twitter.com/RashwalRashwal/status/1660378242719547392?s=20
https://twitter.com/Imranmuhdz/status/1660349207490752514?s=20
https://twitter.com/AfricaViewFacts/status/1660309635675443200?s=20
https://twitter.com/MobilePunch/status/1660347841330413568?s=20
KanyiDaily recalls that Nigerian Government had revealed that Dangote Refinery will be selling its products at the international price, when it kicks off.