Tony Chiejina, the official spokesperson for Dangote Refinery in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil refinery, denied technical malfunctions and reports about selling crude oil without refining, describing these claims as “lies.” Chiejina noted that the refinery continues to receive crude oil shipments from multiple sources, including Angola and Libya, and that the crude distillation unit is operating efficiently.

Reports indicated that the refinery was forced to sell crude oil shipments due to an inability to refine them. Dangote Refinery began production in January 2024 after officially opening in May 2023, delayed by more than 10 years, with a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and investments amounting to $20 billion.  Nigeria relies on the refinery to address local market shortages, leaving consumers eager for its operation to resolve multiple crises.

Reuters reported that the refinery resold crude oil shipments from America and local companies due to technical issues, but Chiejina denied these claims, asserting that the refinery does not sell the Nigerian crude oil it purchased from the local market.

The refinery has started producing propylene, naphtha, diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel, with expected production increases to 500,000 barrels per day in August 2024 and 550,000 barrels per day by the end of the year, reaching its maximum operational capacity of 650,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2025.