The largest oil refinery in Africa, Dangote Refinery, has shifted the start of premium motor spirit (PMS) production, also referred to as gasoline, from June to mid-July.
The $20 billion refinery in Lagos announced the new production date to the media on Monday, according to President and CEO Aliko Dangote.
The date was shifted from the initially planned June to mid-July, according to CEO Dangote, who blamed it on a minor delay.
Dangote claims that the refinery would start producing gasoline between July 10 and July 15, and that the third week of the same month will see the start of supplies to regional marketers.
“We had a bit of delay, but PMS will start coming out by 10 to 15 of July. But then we want to keep it in the tank to make sure that it settles. So by the third week of July, we’ll be able to come out to take it into the market,” Dangote explained.
In the meantime, the refinery has started providing diesel and jet fuel to national marketers, which will lower the cost of the goods at the pump.
Additionally, according to The News Chronicles report, the $20 billion plant began shipping its first cargo of jet fuel to Europe.
The first shipment, carried onboard the ship “Doric Breeze,” departed the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos on May 27 and is currently traveling to Rotterdam, Netherlands, according to data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea.
