Abuja — The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to importing petroleum products from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, citing limited domestic refining capacity and the need to secure affordable, high-quality fuel for its citizens.
The pledge was made at the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja, as the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery declared it has enough capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand while supplying the wider African market.
Speaking at the summit, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), said Ghana’s existing refineries are too small to meet national fuel requirements, making continued imports unavoidable.
“Ghana operates two major refineries and a modular refinery of about 5,000 to 6,000 barrels per day. While that may be sizeable in Ghana, it is insignificant in the Nigerian context,” Tameklo said. “We have always relied on imports—both crude oil and refined products—and Ghana represents a strong offtake market for the Dangote Refinery.”
Strengthening Ghana–Nigeria Energy Ties
Tameklo disclosed that Ghana has already begun extensive engagements with Aliko Dangote to build a strong commercial partnership that will allow Ghana to source refined petroleum products directly from Nigeria.
According to him, the geographical proximity between the two countries makes Nigerian refined products more cost-effective for Ghana, helping to reduce fuel delivery costs and improve supply reliability.
“We are doing everything possible to strengthen this relationship,” he said. “Increased reliance on Nigeria’s refined petroleum products will help lower fuel costs for Ghanaian consumers.”
However, he stressed that the success of such partnerships depends on uniform regulation and macroeconomic stability across Africa, particularly exchange-rate stability.
“If the Ghanaian cedi is stable while the naira is under pressure, the full economic benefits may not reach our people,” Tameklo warned.
Focus on Affordable, Quality Fuel
Tameklo said the NPA’s core mandate is to ensure the availability of affordable and high-quality petroleum products for consumers.
“As regulators, our priority is to ensure that Ghanaians have access to cheaper, affordable, and quality fuel. Partnering with refineries like Dangote, which have committed to high standards, helps us deliver value to our people,” he said.
He also noted that Ghana is willing to provide a ready and reliable market for Nigerian refined products, describing Nigeria as an emerging energy hub for Africa.
Dangote Refinery Ready for Export
Meanwhile, the Group Vice President (Oil and Gas) of the Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, said the refinery is well positioned to serve both local and international markets.
“The refinery has an installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is currently operating at about 85 per cent, with steady progress toward full utilisation,” Edwin said.
He disclosed that Nigeria requires only about 50 per cent of the refinery’s output to meet its domestic petrol and diesel demand, leaving significant volumes available for export.
“We produce Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel). Several processing units are already operating above design capacity, showing the strength of the facility,” he added.
Edwin described the development as a major turning point for Nigeria, which for decades relied heavily on imported refined petroleum products.
