By Daniel Adu Darko
Accra, Oct. 31, GNA-The Africa Energy Technology Centre (AETC) has lauded Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as a transformative milestone for Africa’s energy security and petroleum industry.
Positioned as the largest oil refinery in Africa, the Dangote facility has become a symbol of hope for energy self-sufficiency and regional economic empowerment, underscoring the continent’s capacity to innovate and address its own energy needs.
During a recent visit to the refinery, AETC’s founder and president, Madam Emelia Akumah, expressed admiration for the state-of-the-art technology that powers the massive facility, located in Nigeria’s Lekki Free Zone.
With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (BPD), the refinery stands as the world’s largest single-train facility.
Madam Akumah’s visit was part of her participation in the inaugural Crude Oil Refinery-owners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) Summit and coincided with a visit from Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell, whose presence underscored global interest in the facility.
“This refinery is a powerful symbol of Nigeria’s pride and capabilities,” Akumah remarked, encouraging Ghana to draw inspiration from Dangote’s ambitious model as it embarks on its own petroleum hub project in the Jomoro municipality, aiming to establish three refineries, each with a capacity of at least 300,000 BPD.
“I am amazed at the enormity of technology employed in the construction of the Dangote Refinery, and Ghana must emulate this example,” she added.
Madam Akumah highlighted AETC’s commitment to advancing sustainable, low-carbon energy technology in Africa and invited Edwin Devakumar, Vice President of the Dangote Refinery, to participate in the upcoming Africa Energy Technology Conference, set for 2025 in Accra, Ghana.
This conference is expected to convene key stakeholders to discuss policies and technology to support sustainable development within Africa’s energy landscape.
Madam Akumah, an advocate for women’s leadership in the energy sector, emphasised her vision for a just energy transition in Africa, one that included women and youth as change agents for a greener, more equitable energy future.
She currently serves as the Equality Initiative Ambassador for 2022-2024. Recognised as one of Africa’s 50 most inspirational female energy executives at the 30th anniversary of Africa Oil Week, her efforts highlight the need for clean energy access across the continent.
The CORAN Gala Dinner featured Dr Layi Fatona, Managing Director of Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc, as the guest speaker.
Dr Fatona celebrated the Dangote Refinery as a “game changer” in Nigeria’s path toward energy independence, emphasizing that its operations mark a critical step in reducing the nation’s reliance on imported fuel.
“The commencement of operations at the Dangote Refinery has no doubt become a game changer in the narratives of Nigeria’s journey towards energy security and independence,” Fatona noted.
He praised Dangote as “Africa’s most enduring entrepreneur” and commended the refinery’s impact on Nigeria’s energy landscape, which had previously been hindered by decades of dependence on imported petroleum products.
Dr Fatona also outlined the broader significance of the Dangote Refinery for Africa, noting that Nigeria’s combined refining capacity of approximately 1.3 million BPD accounts for about 35% of Africa’s total demand for refined products.
He referenced OPEC’s 2024 World Oil Outlook, which forecasts that the refinery could reshape global trade flows, create competition for market share, and influence gasoline markets in Africa and Latin America.
However, he advised Dangote and his team to remain vigilant to potential defensive measures from Western refineries as their traditional markets contract due to these shifts.
The Dangote Refinery’s establishment aligns with a broader call for increased collaboration between African governments and the private sector, aimed at strengthening the continent’s refining infrastructure and securing energy autonomy.
This facility not only reinforces Nigeria’s capacity to meet its own energy demands but also positions it to serve the West African market, reducing dependency on imported gasoline from Europe and supporting regional energy security.
AETC’s recognition of the Dangote Refinery underscores its vision for an Africa-led, technologically advanced energy future that leverages local resources and capabilities to foster sustainable growth.
GNA