The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical, David Bird, has revealed that the $20 billion facility is scaling up its storage, logistics, and maritime infrastructure to support growing operations. He explained that the refinery’s coastal location and deep-sea access were strategically chosen to facilitate efficient import and export activities.
According to Bird, the refinery operates under a merchant model that relies heavily on maritime logistics rather than a single crude pipeline. As production increases, the Dangote port is projected to handle approximately 600 vessels annually.
He made these remarks while speaking to members of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) during a facility tour on Tuesday. The visit aimed to clarify misconceptions about the refinery’s operational structure. Bird noted that the expected vessel traffic would generate significant opportunities in employment, local content development, and logistics growth.
On the company’s potential expansion into shipping, Bird stated that Dangote Industries is focused on strengthening control over its supply chain. The company has already moved from sourcing vessels on the spot market to time-chartering ships, with plans to acquire vessels outright once cash flow permits. He emphasized that recent shipping disruptions underscore the importance of greater supply chain control.
Bird also linked the maritime strategy to the group’s broader Pan-African expansion plans, including a proposed tank farm in Namibia and ongoing engagements in Cameroon and Ghana to secure reliable distribution channels across the continent.
Unlike traditional refineries that depend on a single crude source, the Dangote Refinery follows a global merchant model similar to operations in Rotterdam and Singapore. Feedstock is sourced from various international suppliers and transported by sea, while refined products are distributed both locally and to international markets through maritime channels.
An engineer in the refinery’s Maintenance Planning Department, Victor Ngangha Oyama, explained that Dangote Port—initially constructed as a jetty for heavy equipment during the refinery’s construction—has been transformed into a full import and export hub. The port now manages fertiliser exports to countries such as Brazil, receives raw materials, and is undergoing expansion to accommodate additional vessel traffic.
Providing further details, the Head of Marine, Petroleum and Petrochemical, Captain Satendra Singh Rana, highlighted the refinery’s offshore marine infrastructure. The facility operates five Single Point Mooring (SPM) buoys—two for crude oil and three for refined products—connected by 48-inch pipelines buried two metres beneath the seabed for safety.
Rana stated that the crude SPMs can berth Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) carrying up to two million barrels, with some shipments reaching three million barrels. The system is designed for quick turnaround, typically completing operations within 24 hours, and up to 36 hours for larger vessels.
He disclosed that the refinery has already handled about 800 tankers and expects around 600 vessels annually as production reaches 650,000 barrels per day. The offshore design takes advantage of natural water depths of up to 40 metres for crude and 20 metres for refined products, reducing the need for dredging.
Rana added that the SPM and telemetry systems were designed and manufactured by a Houston-based company in the United States and are rated among the safest and most advanced in global maritime energy operations.
