The recent shipment of jet fuel bound for Saudi Aramco, one of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization, signifies the increasing influence of the Dangote Refinery in the global energy market. Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, announced this milestone during a tour of the refinery by directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
Dangote revealed that the refinery has already sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco, showcasing the ambitious goals that the company has set for itself. Since its inception, Dangote Refinery has been supplying the Nigerian aviation industry with JET A1 fuel and exporting it to international destinations like Iceland and London.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, the Dangote Refinery’s Nigerian-made aviation fuel has gained recognition globally, with major hubs such as Heathrow Airport in the UK recommending its use. The report also states that a significant portion of the refinery’s supply was delivered to the Lomé transshipment hub off the coast of Togo between January and October 2024.
As the primary supplier of jet fuel to Nigerian airlines, Dangote’s aviation fuel now accounts for two-thirds of Nigeria’s supply and nearly half of West Africa’s consumption. This has led to a significant decrease in Nigeria’s jet fuel imports, from 13,000 b/d in 2023 to 5,000 b/d in 2024.
British Petroleum (BP) recently made its first purchase of jet fuel from the Dangote Refinery, with the shipment carried by the vessel Doric Breeze amounting to approximately 45,000 metric tons. Additionally, Singapore, Asia’s leading oil hub, received its first low-sulfur straight-run fuel oil cargo from the Dangote Refinery, as confirmed by ship-tracking data and market sources.
The fact that Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest energy company, is sourcing aviation fuel from Dangote further solidifies the refinery’s reputation for quality and capacity in the industry. Analysts believe that this partnership highlights the growing prominence of the Dangote Refinery on the global stage.
