The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has revealed that Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery, is still in its pre-commissioning phase and has yet to receive a full operational license.
This update comes at a critical time when Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) are engaged in discussions over the pricing of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
According to George Ene-Ita, Head of Public Affairs at NMDPRA, the refinery is currently undergoing a phased process.
Only two out of four priority sections have been approved for the introduction of hydrocarbons, allowing the plant to operate on a test-run basis.
“The entire plant is subdivided into four sections technically referred to as priorities one, two, three, and four,” Ene-Ita explained.
“At this stage of pre-commissioning, only priorities one and two have been given approval to introduce hydrocarbons.”
Under this condition, the refinery is permitted to produce petroleum products such as diesel, jet fuel, and kerosene, which are then released into the market under regulatory supervision.
The pre-commissioning phase also involves conducting rigorous pre-startup and safety audits of the facility, Ene-Ita noted.
These audits include tests on the plant’s mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems to ensure the refinery’s readiness for full-scale production.
Ene-Ita emphasized that full production and an increased volume of PMS would only be achieved when approval is given to introduce hydrocarbons into priorities three and four.
Once these sections are operational, the plant will undergo a 90-day observation period during which additional tests and audits will be carried out to confirm compliance with regulatory guidelines.
If, after 90 days, NMDPRA’s technical team confirms that the facility adheres to all parameters, the refinery will be issued a License to Operate (LTO).
The successful completion of this process is highly anticipated, as Dangote Refinery is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports once it achieves full operational status, processing 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
