LAGOS: Nigeria’s Dangote Refinary has achieved another breakthrough as it exported its first shipment of petrol (gasoline) to the United States, underscoring its capacity to meet international fuel standards and reshaping Nigeria’s position in global energy markets.
According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, the maiden U.S.-bound cargo was delivered aboard the tanker Gemini Pearl and discharged at Sunoco’s Linden, New Jersey facility. The shipment totaled about 320,000 barrels.
The cargo was purchased by global energy trader Vitol from Mocoh Oil, Dangote’s export partner, before being resold to Sunoco, one of North America’s leading fuel distributors.
Industry data confirmed the vessel’s discharge, while sources noted that Vitol retained part of the consignment.
The delivery marks a major milestone for the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery, as energy market participants had been waiting to see when its production would start meeting strict U.S. motor fuels standards, Reuters quoted sources as saying.
The milestone shipment comes after a series of startup delays at the $20 billion facility, now regarded as the largest single-train refinery in the world.
Since ramping up production, Dangote Refinery has reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol while channeling surplus output to export markets.
Additional shipments are already in motion. A second U.S.-bound cargo, arranged by Glencore for Shell, is expected to arrive around September 19, while a third Vitol shipment on the Seaexplorer is due September 22.
However, sources cautioned that market conditions could affect delivery destinations.
The U.S. exports signal a new phase in Nigeria’s energy landscape, proving that Dangote Refinery can produce petrol that meets the world’s toughest standards.
Analysts note that the facility’s growing footprint will not only help stabilize Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply but also establish West Africa as a competitive player in global petroleum trade.
The development comes amid ongoing disputes between Dangote Group and Nigerian oil unions, but it further strengthens the company’s global energy profile.
