*Dangote Group disclaims a published fake notice of the launch of its $19billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals, located at Ibeju-Lekki, in Lagos State of Nigeria

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Dangote Group, a leading business conglomerate on the African continent, has disclaimed a published fake notice of the launch of its $19billion Dangote Integrated Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex, located at Ibeju-Lekki, in the Lekki Free Zone, in Lagos State of Nigeria.

ConsumerConnect reports the disclaimer was contained in a terse statement Mr. Timilehin Oyedare of the Digital Communications Unit, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, issued at the weekend, in Lagos.

Construction workers at the Dangote Integrated Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos

Dangote Refinery to begin operations soon as pre-commission tests reach concluding stages, making a launch date in the first quarter of 2023 feasible, sources said.

Benefits of Dangote Refinery to consumers and Nigerian economy, by NMDPRA

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), otherwise referred to as ‘The Authority’, also noted 2022, that the oil and gas facility owned by Alhaji Aliko, President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, was 97 percent complete at the time.

Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of NMDPRA, had disclosed this development when representatives of the Dangote Refinery visited him in his office, in Abuja, FCT, to present the work plan of the facility for 2022/2023.

The NMDPRA, in a statement, had affirmed that the “representatives of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals presented their 2022/2023 work plan to the Authority which showed that the refinery project is estimated to be at 97 percent completion.

“Dangote Oil Refinery is a 650,000 barrels per day integrated refinery project under construction in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos. It is expected to be Africa’s biggest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single-train facility.”

Ahmed as well reiterated the importance of the Dangote Refinery to the country, as he assured that ‘The Authority’ would give all necessary support to ensure timely completion and kick-start operations.

It was also learnt the company’s plans indicated the refinery, billed as the largest single-train refinery in the world with a capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) could see the first refining runs begin as early March this year.

The integrated refinery and petrochemical complex in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Nigeria, is expected to be the world’s biggest single-train facility, upon commissioning.

The refinery is positioned to produce Euro-V quality gasoline and diesel, as well as jet fuel and polypropylene, and will likely generate 4,000 direct and 145,000 indirect jobs, a report said.

In terms of immediate benfits of the refining facility to the Nigerian energy consumers, the new refinery is expected to double the West Aftrican country’s refining capacity, and help in meeting the increasing demand for fuels, while providing cost  and foreign exchange savings.

It is estimated to have an annual refining capacity of 10.4 million tonnes of petrol.