Dangote Refinery Imports First Crude Cargoes from UAE

Nigeria's Dangote Petroleum Refinery has imported its first-ever cargoes of crude oil from the Middle East, a strategic diversification as the massive facility expands operations and prepares for a landmark public listing later this year. The refinery, located in Lagos, purchased two shipments from the United Arab Emirates in June, according to market reports.

This move comes as the refinery, which reached a processing capacity of approximately 700,000 barrels per day earlier this year, seeks to secure reliable feedstock. While it has a supply agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company for 13 to 15 monthly cargoes of domestic crude, that arrangement has faced challenges due to domestic supply constraints. The refinery sourced about 70% of its crude from Nigeria and 24% from the United States in 2025.

The availability of Middle Eastern crude has been bolstered by a recent interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran, which helped resume normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The refinery has also previously sourced crude from Libya.

Concurrently, the Dangote Group is advancing ambitious expansion plans and regional partnerships. Company executives...