Dangote refinery startup fails to appease doubters
Mega-refinery set to transform Nigeria but questions remain over feedstock that may limit key gasoline production, at least for now
Nigeria’s much-delayed Dangote refinery has started production, in defiance of the widespread pessimism over the project’s timeline. The facility has already received multiple crude deliveries, but the specific grades and volume may cap potential output, while some observers caution that further delays could still emerge. Nigerian conglomerate Dangote Group announced on 12 January the start of diesel and aviation fuel production at the new refinery. “The first trial runs [at Dangote] must have already started in December, judging by crude import flows over December and January, with a looming ramp-up in runs already [in January],” said Andon Pavlov, lead analyst for dirty products and refini
Also in this section
9 January 2026
The Latin American producer’s crude prospects rely on a multi-pronged approach where even the relatively easy wins will take considerable time, effort and cost
9 January 2026
While many forecasters are reasserting the importance of oil and gas, petrostates should be under no illusion things are changing, and faster than they might think
8 January 2026
Indonesia and Malaysia are at the dawn of breathtaking digital capabilities. Their energy infrastructure must keep up with their ambitions
8 January 2026
The next five years will be critical for the North Sea, and it will be policy not geology that will decide the basin’s future






