Dangote Refinery has made a significant leap in the global petroleum market by exporting aviation fuel to Saudi Aramco, showcasing its world-class capabilities
Dangote Refinery has solidified its position in the global petroleum industry with the successful export of two cargoes of aviation fuel to Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.
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This marks a significant milestone for the refinery, which continues to expand its operations and global footprint since its launch in 2024.
Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, announced the achievement on February 4, 2025, during a visit by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) directors to Dangote Fertiliser Limited and Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Dangote praised the refinery’s world-class standards and cutting-edge technologies, attributing the export success to the refinery’s ability to meet global market demands.
“We are reaching the ambitious goals we set for ourselves, and I’m pleased to announce that we’ve just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” Dangote said, highlighting the refinery’s continuous growth, which now sees a production capacity of 550,000 barrels per day.
The Dangote refinery is the largest single-train refinery in the world, built with an impressive investment of $20 billion.
During the NESG visit, the group expressed admiration for Dangote’s accomplishments. NESG chairman, Mr. Niyi Yusuf, noted that Nigeria’s economic aspirations, including the goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy, require more investments like Dangote’s.
“This refinery, fertiliser plant, petrochemical complex, and supporting infrastructure are monumental,” Yusuf remarked, emphasising the crucial role such investments play in Nigeria’s industrialisation.
Yusuf also praised the refinery for fostering local job creation and for its support of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The NESG delegation, which included board members and stakeholders, toured the state-of-the-art refinery operations and fertiliser plants, applauding the advanced technology and the expertise of young Nigerian engineers managing world-class laboratories and control units.
In response, Dangote highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in Nigeria’s development.
He argued that overcoming the nation’s challenges requires creating job opportunities and promoting self-sufficiency, rather than relying on imports.
He cited examples of other countries, such as the USA and China, which actively protect their domestic industries to safeguard jobs and promote growth.
Dangote also pointed to the example of the Benin Republic, where cement imports are restricted to protect local industries, despite his nearby Ibese plant.
He stressed the need for the Nigerian government to support local industries by improving infrastructure and providing essential services like power, roads, and ports.
He argued that investors often bear the cost of these services, which should be the responsibility of the government.
