For the first time, Dangote Refinery has imported crude oil from Ghana in a strategic bid to broaden its feedstock sources and strengthen operations. The move comes amid persistent concerns about the facility’s performance levels, with market watchers questioning its ability to consistently meet expectations.
According to energy market tracker Kpler, the refinery is currently processing about 450,000 barrels per day (kbd), roughly 70% of its targeted 650,000 kbd capacity. This marks an improvement from the 400 kbd (60%) recorded in the first quarter but still falls short of projections for Africa’s largest refinery. Ghana’s Sankofa crude — a medium-sweet grade with an API gravity of 29 and 0.3% sulfur content — has now joined the refinery’s feedstock mix. In August alone, Dangote took delivery of five Suezmax shipments from Nigeria, two Very Large Crude Carriers from the United States, and one cargo from Ghana.
Analysts also note the return of Brass River crude, which had been absent from Dangote’s inputs for nearly a year, as a further sign of supply diversification. Meanwhile, competition in the region may intensify in the coming years, with Cameroon’s Sonara announcing plans to restart its Limbe Refinery by 2027 after an eight-year shutdown. This could potentially reshape the refining landscape in West and Central Africa.
