Dangote Petroleum Refinery has purchased two cargoes of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates, marking its first-ever import of Middle Eastern crude as it expands its supply sources.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, the refinery made the purchases following improved stability in the Middle East after the United States and Iran reached an interim peace agreement, easing concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The move reflects the refinery’s strategy to diversify beyond Nigerian, African, and U.S. crude as it faces ongoing domestic supply challenges. Although an agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) guarantees the refinery between 13 and 15 cargoes of local crude monthly, supply constraints have forced it to seek additional feedstock from overseas.
Dangote Refinery, which currently has a processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, also plans to expand to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028. The company has indicated that heavier crude grades, including those from the Middle East, will play a larger role in its future operations.
The refinery continues to broaden its crude mix as it works toward becoming a fully merchant refinery and strengthening its position in the global energy market.
