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