According to Dangote Industries’ Executive Director, Devakumar Edwin, the refinery — Africa’s largest — has added Ghana’s Sankofa grade to its crude portfolio to strengthen operational flexibility. The move comes as output in August rose to about 610,000 barrels per day (bpd), close to its 650,000 bpd nameplate capacity.
Despite earlier assurances that the $20 billion complex would prioritize Nigerian crude, the refinery has increasingly diversified its feedstock, sourcing barrels not only from Nigeria but also from Brazil, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, the United States and now Ghana.
Ghana’s Sankofa Crude Joins the Mix
The refinery recently received its first cargo of Ghana’s Sankofa crude, a medium-sweet blend with 29 API and 0.3% sulphur content, alongside several Nigerian Suezmaxes and two U.S. Very Large Crude Carriers, according to energy tracking firm Kpler.
The inclusion of Sankofa highlights what analysts describe as a “growing appetite for supply flexibility” at Dangote. In July, U.S. light sweet crude even overtook Nigerian supply in the refinery’s intake mix for the first time.
Steady Growth Despite Questions
Industry trackers report a steady climb in output. Figures from Kpler put August throughput at around 450,000 bpd — about 70% of total capacity — up from 400,000 bpd in the first quarter. Argus also confirmed the facility is now operating more reliably than before.
Benedict George, editor of the Argus European Products Report, said the refinery has “surpassed industry expectations in 2025,” pointing to its growing run rates and crude receipts.
Balancing Local Supply and Market Realities
The strategy shift has sparked questions about the refinery’s long-term reliance on Nigerian crude. While Dangote Industries previously assured that the plant would phase out imports in favor of domestic barrels, market realities appear to have forced a more pragmatic approach.
“Some of the long-term contracts will expire, and we expect that before the end of the year, we can transition 100% to local crude,” a company representative told Bloomberg in June.
For now, however, diversification remains central. By drawing on Ghana and other suppliers, the refinery is seeking to guarantee operational consistency while maintaining its role as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy security.
A Balancing Act Ahead
Analysts warn that the truce between ambition and reality remains fragile. The refinery’s record intake levels suggest progress, but its reliance on non-Nigerian barrels underscores the challenges of supply stability.
For Dangote, the task ahead will be to balance commitments to Nigeria’s crude producers with the operational demands of running Africa’s most ambitious refining project.
