Nigeria’s massive Dangote refinery is preparing to sell new batches of refined fuel, according to trading sources familiar with the process.
A summary of tender documents indicates the refinery is offering cargoes of both jet fuel and gasoil for loading later this month. The sales could mark another step in the facility’s gradual expansion into global fuel markets.
The refinery, located in the Ibeju-Lekki district of Lagos, is offering up to 44,000 metric tons of jet fuel scheduled for loading between March 20 and March 22. In addition, traders say the company is seeking buyers for at least 40,000 metric tons of gasoil — a form of diesel — with a sulfur content capped at 50 parts per million.
The diesel cargo is expected to load sometime between March 15 and March 30, according to the trading source.
The Dangote refinery, one of the largest oil refining facilities in the world, has drawn global attention since beginning operations. Built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, the facility was designed to reduce the country’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products while also positioning Nigeria as a fuel exporter.
As production ramps up, the refinery has increasingly entered the international trading market by issuing tenders for refined products. Such tenders invite energy traders to submit bids for cargoes scheduled to be shipped during specific loading windows.
Industry observers say these tenders help signal how quickly the refinery is scaling its operations and expanding supply into global markets.
Dangote has not yet publicly commented on the latest tender offers. Requests for confirmation were not immediately answered.
The refinery’s activity is closely watched by energy traders and analysts because its output has the potential to reshape fuel flows in West Africa and beyond. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to significantly increase regional refining capacity and reduce reliance on imports across the continent.