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Dangote Refinery Starts Production, Promises Relief for Nigeria's Fuel Crisis

© AP Photo / Sunday AlambaPeople sell fuel outside a petrol station in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday April 30, 2024. Nigerians were queuing for hours to buy fuel across major cities on Tuesday as the West African nation faced its latest fuel shortage, resulting in increased hardship for millions already struggling with the country's economic crisis.
People sell fuel outside a petrol station in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday April 30, 2024. Nigerians were queuing for hours to buy fuel across major cities on Tuesday as the West African nation faced its latest fuel shortage, resulting in increased hardship for millions already struggling with the country's economic crisis. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 03.09.2024
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For years, Nigeria has been exchanging billions of dollars worth of crude oil for heavily subsidized petrol, putting significant strain on its foreign exchange reserves. This situation has been exacerbated by declining oil revenue and foreign currency shortages.
Africa's largest refinery, the Dangote refinery in Nigeria, has finally begun producing petrol, offering a glimmer of hope for the oil-rich nation grappling with chronic fuel shortages.
Billionaire Aliko Dangote, the refinery's owner, announced the start of production on Tuesday, stating that gasoline could hit the market within the next 48 hours.
Dangote noted that the new product’s pricing is still being finalized by the government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
La raffinerie Dangote à Lagos, Nigeria le 22 mai 2023 - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 19.08.2024
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"Once we are finished with NNPC, it could be today, it could be tomorrow, then we are ready to roll in to the market," he said.
The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, commenced diesel and aviation fuel production in January. However, oil-rich Nigeria has relied heavily on costly gasoline imports due to a lack of domestic refining capacity.
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