According to news reports, Industrialist, Aliko Dangote, is currently courting international banks for potential loans for crude oil importation.
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), a pan-African development lender has been tipped as one of such financial institutions says the Financial Times (FT).
The report also indicates Dangote Refinery needs to purchase additional crude oil to hit 650,000 barrels per day full capacity.
Already, the Knightsbridge Strategic Group (KSG), a group of experts from the US and UK, providing geopolitical intelligence, said it expected the refinery to hit full capacity in 2025, adding: “Assuming full capacity is eventually reached at the Dangote Refinery, KSG assesses that there will be long-term reductions in local fuel costs and increased market competition in Europe as Nigeria becomes a new fuel exporter.
“KSG assesses that Nigeria’s transition to reliance on domestic refined oil will likely allow European nations to de-risk their oil supply chains from Russia further, given the freed-up supply Nigerian refined oil demand will leave countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway with an oversupply.
“Once the refinery reaches full capacity, long-term reductions in local fuel costs and increased competition in Europe’s fuel market is expected. The government’s failure to address refinery issues may trigger political unrest, including violent protests, as the removal of fuel subsidies exacerbates the crisis.”
