The Dangote Group has announced plans to begin its own crude production, to help cover shortfalls in local crude feedstocks, in the coming weeks through its upstream assets.
According to Mr Devakumar Edwin, the Vice President of the Dangote Group, the company has commenced early testing on crude from its Niger Delta licenses.
In an interview with Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, the official said the company has already begun standard well testing and is preparing to scale up output.
“We have opened a well and begun standard testing, which should be completed in the next three to four weeks, maximum.
“After that point, oil can start to be pumped in larger volumes, and the company can begin work on drilling new wells,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr David Bird, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Dangote refinery, said the upstream assets could provide a more stable crude supply for the refinery.
“Alongside its upstream interests, the company is seeking to establish its own shipping presence to help reduce logistics costs and improve the reliability of its crude sourcing,” Mr Bird said.
While confirmation has come from the company, the Nigerian government or the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited is yet to officially confirm the development.
The 650,000 barrels-per-day facility has been able to get enough feedstock locally under the federal government’s Crude-for-Naira initiative, leading it to source crude from international markets at a premium, which is partly responsible for the high cost of petrol and other fuels.
However, in April 2026, the NNPC said it would increase its crude supply to Dangote Refinery to seven cargoes.
The refinery, on several occasions, has stated it sources the majority of its crude oil outside Nigeria despite being the country’s Naira-for-crude sale deal.
Last month, it said the NNPC only gave it four to five cargoes, which is less than 50 per cent of expected volumes. The majority of Nigeria’s crude is tied to joint ventures with international oil companies.
With the latest development, it would help reduce the dependency on international crude as well as allow Dangote to ease some of its import costs.
