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Africa’s Losing $90bn Annually to Imported Substandard Fuel, Dangote Laments
Africa has become a destination for cheap, often toxic petroleum products, often blended to substandard levels that would not be permitted in Europe or North America.
This concern was raised by the President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, at the ongoing West African Refined Fuel Conference held in Abuja.
The event is the brainchild of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Commodity Insights.
According to Dangote due to the continent’s limited domestic refining capacity, Africa imports over 120 million tonnes of refined petroleum products annually, at a cost of approximately $90 billion.
While appreciating the Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), for making some cargoes of Nigerian crude available to us from start of production to date, he revealed that the company, monthly import between 9-10 million barrels of crude from the United States of America and other countries.
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He said, “As we speak today, we buy 9 – 10 million barrels of crude monthly from US and other countries. I must thank NNPC for making some cargoes of Nigerian crude available to us from start of production to date.”
Dangote further stated that despite producing around 7 million barrels of crude oil per day, Africa only refines about 40% of its 4.3 million barrels daily consumption of refined products domestically. In stark contrast, Europe and Asia refine over 95% of what they consume.
“So, while we produce plenty of crude, we still import over 120 million tonnes of refined petroleum products each year, effectively exporting jobs and importing poverty into our continent. That’s a $90 billion market opportunity being captured by regions with surplus refining capacity. To put this in perspective: only about 15% of African countries have a GDP greater than $90 billion. We are effectively handing over an entire continent’s economic potential to others—year after year,” he said.
While reaffirming his belief in the power of free markets and international cooperation, Dangote emphasised that trade must be grounded in economic efficiency and comparative advantage — not at the expense of quality or safety standards.
He stressed that, “it defies logic and economic sense for Africa to be exporting raw crude only to re-import refined products—products we are more than capable of producing ourselves, closer to both source and consumption.”
Reflecting on the experience of delivering the world’s largest single-train refinery, Dangote also highlighted a range of challenges faced, including technical, commercial, and contextual hurdles unique to the African landscape.
Africa’s wealthiest man described building refineries such as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as one of the most capital-intensive and logistically complex industrial facilities ever constructed. The Dangote refinery project, he said, required clearing 2,735 hectares of land (seven times the size of Victoria Island), of which 70% was swampy, requiring the pumping of 65 million cubic metres of sand to stabilise the site and raise it by 1.5 metres, over 250,000 foundation piles, and millions of metres of piping, cabling, and electrical wiring among others.
“At peak, we had over 67,000 people on-site of which 50,000 are Nigerians, coordinating around the clock across hundreds of disciplines and nationalities. Then, of course, came the COVID-19 pandemic which set us back by two years and brought new levels of complexity, disruption, and risk. But we persevered,” he noted.
The refinery also required the construction of a dedicated seaport, as existing Nigerian ports could not handle the size and volume of equipment required. This included over 2,500 pieces of heavy equipment, 330 cranes, and even the establishment of the world’s largest granite quarry, with a production capacity of 10 million tonnes per year.
“In short, we didn’t just build a refinery—we built an entire industrial ecosystem from scratch,” he said.
Despite the refinery’s technical success, Dangote identified significant commercial challenges, particularly exchange rates which have gone from N156/$ at inception to N1,600/$ at completion, and challenges around crude oil sourcing. Although Nigeria is said to produce about 2 million barrels per day, the refinery has struggled to secure crude at competitive terms.
“Rather than buying crude oil directly from Nigerian producers at competitive terms, we found ourselves having to negotiate with international trading companies, who were buying Nigerian crude and reselling it to us—with hefty premiums, of course.
Logistics and regulatory bottlenecks have also taken a toll. Port and regulatory charges reportedly account for 40% of total freight costs, sometimes costing two-thirds as much as chartering the vessel itself.
“Refiners in India, who purchase crude oil from regions even farther away, enjoy lower freight costs than we do right here in West Africa because they are not saddled with exorbitant port charges,” Dangote said.
He added that, in terms of port charges, it is currently more expensive to load a domestic cargo of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery, as customers pay both at the point of loading and at the point of discharge. In contrast, when they load from Lomé, which competes with them, they pay only at the point of discharge.
Dangote further criticised the lack of harmonised fuel standards across African nations, which creates artificial barriers for regional trade in refined products.
“The fuel we produce for Nigeria cannot be sold in Cameroon or Ghana or Togo, even though we all drive the same vehicles. This lack of harmonisation benefits no one—except, of course, international traders, who thrive on arbitrage. For local refiners like us, it fragments the market and imposes unnecessary inefficiencies.”
Dangote, stating the challenge with diesel production in Africa, noted, “to give one example, the diesel cloud point for Nigeria is 4 degrees. Without going into the technical details, this means that the diesel should work at a temperature of 4 degrees centigrade. Achieving this comes at a cost to us and limits the types of crude we could process. But how many places in Nigeria experience temperatures of 4 degrees? Other African countries have a more reasonable range of 7 to 12 degrees. This is a low hanging fruit which could be addressed by the regulators.”
He also cited the growing influx of discounted, low-quality fuel originating from Russia — blended with Russian crude under price caps and dumped in African markets.
“And to make matters worse, we are now facing increasing dumping of cheap, often toxic, petroleum products—some of which are blended to substandard levels that would never be allowed in Europe or North America,” he said.
Dangote called on African governments to follow the example of the United States, Canada, and the European Union, which have implemented protective measures for domestic refiners.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has successfully concluded its landmark Initial Public Offering (IPO), attracting investor applications from 120 countries across the world, including all of Africa’s 54 countries.
A company statement describes it as an unprecedented demonstration of the continent’s capacity to mobilise capital and broaden ownership of strategic industrial assets.
The historic offering, widely described as The People’s IPO, achieved 100 percent geographical coverage of Africa, bringing together investors from across the continent and beyond in a transaction that could redefine the scale, accessibility and international reach of African capital markets.
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More than a conventional fundraising exercise, the IPO has emerged as a landmark in financial inclusion, demonstrating how digital technology, coordinated financial institutions and innovative distribution channels can connect millions of potential investors to opportunities previously dominated by institutional and high-net-worth participants. The transaction was supported by an extensive network of commercial banks, stockbroking firms, fintech platforms, capital market institutions and distribution partners, whose collaboration expanded access to the offer across national boundaries and created new pathways for retail participation.
For the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), the conclusion of the IPO marks a defining moment in its industrial journey, transforming the refinery’s ownership proposition from an investment driven by a single entrepreneurial vision into an opportunity for broader African participation. President and Chief Executive of the DIL, Aliko Dangote, described the outcome as a powerful affirmation of African confidence, enterprise and the continent’s ability to mobilise its own resources for development.
“When we set out to build this refinery, many doubted that a project of this scale could be delivered by Africans. We proved that Africa could build it. Today, through this historic IPO, we have demonstrated something equally important: Africans are ready to own and participate in the prosperity created by their own industries.
“To have investor applications from all 54 African countries is deeply significant to me. It tells us that our people do not simply want to consume what Africa produces; they want to invest in it, own it and share in its future. This is the Africa we have always believed in,” he said. “We did not undertake this IPO simply because we needed to raise capital. We wanted to open the doors of ownership, give ordinary Africans an opportunity to participate in an enterprise of global significance and establish a new culture of shared prosperity. The refinery was built in Africa, by African determination, and its future must create opportunities for Africans. Today, we have made history together. But the greater achievement will be the generation of African investors, entrepreneurs and industrialists that this transaction inspires. Our ambition is not merely to build successful businesses. It is to help build a prosperous, self-reliant Africa whose people are participants in its economic destiny. As we advance our expansion programme and Vision 2030 strategy, we remain committed to strengthening our operational performance, deepening our contribution to Africa’s energy security and building an enterprise that rewards the confidence placed in it”
The IPO’s geographical reach is particularly significant for a continent where capital markets have historically been fragmented by national boundaries, differing regulatory environments and limited retail investor participation. By attracting applications from all 54 African countries, the transaction has demonstrated the potential for a more connected investment ecosystem in which Africans can participate in major industrial opportunities beyond their domestic markets. The offering also highlights the growing importance of digital financial infrastructure in widening investment access. Through partnerships involving traditional financial institutions and technology-driven investment platforms, the transaction created multiple channels through which eligible investors could express interest and submit applications.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DPRP, David Bird, said the international response reflected confidence in the refinery’s operating capabilities, industrial scale and long-term growth prospects.
“The successful conclusion of this IPO is a remarkable milestone for Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals. Investor applications spanning 120 countries demonstrate the extraordinary international interest in our business and the confidence that investors are placing in the future of this refinery. We have built one of the world’s most significant refining and petrochemical complexes, and our focus remains on translating that industrial scale into operational excellence, sustainable growth and long-term shareholder value,” he said. “What makes this transaction particularly meaningful is the breadth of participation. The opportunity to own a stake in a major African industrial enterprise has reached investors across every African country and all six inhabited continents. That is a powerful endorsement of the refinery’s potential and of Africa’s growing relevance in global investment markets.”
The refinery’s IPO opened on September 14, 2026, offering 4.1 billion ordinary shares at N525 per share, representing a proposed capital raise of approximately N2.15 trillion. Initially scheduled to close on October 13, the offer was extended to October 27 following approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission, allowing additional time for investors across Africa and other international markets to participate. The extension reflected the Group’s stated ambition to prioritise the breadth of ownership alongside the financial objectives of the transaction. Beyond the industrial significance of the refinery itself, the IPO has also established a model for collaboration across Africa’s financial services ecosystem. Its distribution network brought together institutions operating across banking, securities trading, financial technology and investor engagement, demonstrating how coordinated infrastructure can expand access to large-scale investment opportunities.
On his part, the Group Chief Financial Officer, DIL, Murat Erden, on the execution and wider significance of the offering, said the transaction had established an important precedent for the continent’s capital markets.
“The Dangote Refinery People’s IPO represents much more than a landmark capital-raising exercise. It marks a defining moment in the evolution of African capital markets, demonstrating our continent’s ability to mobilise domestic savings, connect investors across borders and broaden ownership of strategic industrial assets. Reaching investors in 120 countries, including all 54 African nations, is an extraordinary achievement and a powerful testament to the growing investment appetite across our continent. By bringing together banks, capital market institutions, stockbrokers, fintech platforms and innovative digital distribution channels, we have demonstrated that African capital markets can transcend national boundaries and connect millions of people to investment opportunities previously beyond their reach,” he said. “Importantly, this transaction is underpinned by exceptional industrial and financial fundamentals. With US22.5 billion in revenue and US5.52 billion in EBITDA in the first nine months of 2026, Dangote Refinery combines world-class industrial scale, strong profitability and significant long-term growth potential. Our greatest achievement is not simply the capital we mobilise, but the doors we open and the foundation we lay for future generations of African investors, entrepreneurs and businesses. We believe the People’s IPO will be remembered not only as a landmark transaction in African capital market history, but as a blueprint for a more inclusive, interconnected and globally competitive African financial ecosystem — one in which Africans increasingly finance, own and share in the prosperity created by their continent’s industrial transformation.”
The successful conclusion of the offer comes as Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals pursues an ambitious programme to expand its refining and petrochemical operations, strengthen its distribution network and support greater energy security across Africa. Located in Lagos, the refinery represents one of the continent’s largest private industrial investments and a major effort to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products while building domestic processing capacity.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) is set to become the first industrial facility to deploy Honeywell Technologies’ newly launched artificial intelligence platform, in a major technological advancement projected to deliver more than $60 million in annual gross operational benefits at full refining capacity.
The deployment of the platform, known as Forge Plant Cognition, will position the Lekki-based refinery at the forefront of AI-driven industrial operations, combining Honeywell Technologies’ process engineering expertise with NVIDIA’s artificial intelligence capabilities and Dell Technologies’ computing infrastructure to improve refining efficiency, maximise output and strengthen operational reliability. Announcing the development, Honeywell Technologies said the new platform would make its global debut at Dangote Refinery, one of the world’s largest refineries, as part of efforts to unlock greater value from existing industrial assets and transform how complex refining and petrochemical facilities are operated.
According to preliminary assessments, the technology could generate operational benefits exceeding 29 cents per barrel at the refinery. At full-capacity throughput, Honeywell estimates that the improvements could translate into more than $60 million in annual gross benefits. The company, however, clarified that the projection was specific to the Dangote facility, based on preliminary data and subject to actual operating conditions. The development represents another significant step in Dangote Refinery’s technological evolution, as the company moves beyond the construction and commissioning of a world-class industrial complex towards the deployment of advanced digital systems designed to maximise productivity, strengthen competitiveness and support its ambitious expansion programme.
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Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DPRP, David Bird, said the decision to adopt the technology reflected the refinery’s commitment to operational excellence, innovation and the development of Nigerian engineering talent.
“We chose Honeywell Technologies’ Forge Plant Cognition because the platform can deliver unrivaled industrial expertise combined with differentiated AI capabilities to help us optimize performance, unlock greater value from our operations and evolve how we operate our assets,” Bird said. “This investment reinforces our commitment to operational excellence, advancing technology and developing Nigerian talent to operate at world-class standards.”
Unlike conventional industrial monitoring systems that primarily analyse operating data and generate recommendations, Forge Plant Cognition is designed to integrate real-time plant information with engineering knowledge, advanced calculations, and physics-based models to identify operational constraints and support faster, more informed decisions. The technology will enable refinery engineers and operators to detect potential equipment and process problems before they escalate, identify bottlenecks affecting production and recommend corrective actions to improve throughput, product yields, and overall plant performance.
Honeywell explained that the platform would focus on three critical areas: identifying opportunities to improve refining margins, protecting production by reducing unplanned downtime, and making specialised engineering expertise more readily available to plant personnel. By combining these capabilities, the system is expected to help operators extract greater value from existing equipment while strengthening the reliability and efficiency of interconnected refining processes. Forge Plant Cognition would help transfer specialised process knowledge into AI-powered tools accessible to local engineers and operators, enabling them to solve complex problems more efficiently and develop advanced industrial capabilities. The initiative supports Dangote Refinery’s objective of building a workforce comprising more than 70 per cent Nigerians, while progressively reducing dependence on external technical expertise.
President of Honeywell Technologies UOP, Rajesh Gattupalli, described the collaboration with Dangote as a demonstration of the potential of artificial intelligence to transform large-scale industrial operations.
“Industrial plants are among the most complex operating environments in the world, with enormous potential to realize greater performance and value using digital technologies and connected solutions,” Gattupalli said. “By collaborating with Dangote to launch Forge Plant Cognition, we are demonstrating how AI can help transform industrial operations, driving new levels of productivity, reliability and profitability at significant scale.”
Standard Chartered says it acted as the sole financial adviser to Shell International Limited on the sale of Shell Nigeria Gas Limited to Vaaris Energy Limited, in a transaction expected to be completed in the first half of 2027.
The bank disclosed this in a statement announcing its advisory role in the transaction, which involves one of Nigeria’s leading gas distribution platforms.
Shell entered into an agreement to sell the business on 13 October, 2026, with the transaction expected to provide Vaaris Energy with an established gas infrastructure network serving industrial and commercial customers.
Shell Nigeria Gas provides gas supply solutions to businesses through its extensive distribution infrastructure, positioning the company to benefit from growing domestic gas demand.
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Standard Chartered explained that it provided strategic and financial advice throughout the transaction, managing the entire sale process, including transaction preparation and positioning, buyer engagement, deal structuring, negotiations, due diligence coordination and transaction documentation.
Commenting on the transaction, the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Coverage for Africa at Standard Chartered, Dalu Ajene, stated that Nigeria’s gas sector had an important role to play in supporting the country’s economic ambitions and meeting rising domestic energy demand.
“Nigeria’s gas sector has an important role to play in supporting the country’s economic ambitions and meeting growing domestic energy demand. Across Africa, investment in critical energy infrastructure is essential to unlocking industrial growth and long-term development, and this transaction demonstrates the role strategic investment can play in advancing that opportunity. At Standard Chartered, connecting our clients in Nigeria and across Africa to global capital and investors remains a priority. We are pleased to have supported Shell by bringing together the strength of our international network, deep local knowledge and sector expertise.”
The Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for Africa at Standard Chartered, Yemisi Deji-Bejide, said the transaction demonstrated the bank’s capacity to execute complex deals by combining international expertise with local market knowledge.
“We are proud to have advised Shell on the sale of one of Nigeria’s leading gas distribution platforms. As sole financial adviser, we brought together end-to-end M&A execution, deep sector expertise and strong buyer connectivity. This transaction demonstrates the strength of our Africa M&A franchise and our ability to combine global capabilities with local market insight to execute complex, strategically important transactions for our clients.”
The bank said the transaction supported Shell’s ongoing portfolio optimisation strategy while providing a platform for the continued development of Shell Nigeria Gas under Vaaris Energy.
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