Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe, has dispatched its first seaborne gasoline cargo, marking a critical milestone as production ramps up.

The vessel *Sabaek* recently departed with approximately 500,000 barrels of gasoline, bound for Lagos, based on port reports and ship-tracking data from Bloomberg.

Production Gathers Pace

The refinery’s residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC)—a key unit responsible for converting crude residues into higher-value fuels like gasoline—is steadily increasing output, according to a source familiar with the operation.

With a full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery is set to reshape the regional fuel landscape by reducing West Africa’s reliance on gasoline imports from Europe. Additionally, it has already impacted crude oil flows by easing Nigeria’s surplus supply challenges.

From Trucks to Tankers

This seaborne shipment comes about a month after the refinery began distributing gasoline via trucks, marking a significant step toward optimizing logistics and expanding distribution networks.

The full-scale operation of Dangote’s refinery will transform the regional fuel market, enhancing local supply chains and reducing import dependency, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the regional energy market.

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