The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has described the Dangote Refinery as a world-class industrial facility, praising its advanced technology, impressive scale, and operational excellence.
Ojulari made the remarks on Saturday after inspecting key sections of the refinery, including the master control room, during a tour hosted by Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote.
Speaking to journalists, the NNPCL chief said Nigerians should appreciate the vision and leadership behind the massive project, noting that building a refinery of such magnitude required courage, foresight, and technical expertise.
“Nigerians should be grateful for the leadership and inspiration of Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Group. It takes rare audacity to embark on a project of this size and complexity,” Ojulari said.
He added that visiting the facility in person gave a clearer understanding of its sophistication and technological depth.
“There is nothing like seeing it physically. What we are witnessing here is frontline, world-class technology, deployed at the highest global standards,” he stated.
Drawing from his engineering background, Ojulari explained that initial concerns about the refinery’s single-train configuration had been dispelled after seeing its architecture and multiple layers of built-in redundancy.
“Despite being a single train, the design ensures very high availability. The level of engineering here is exceptional,” he said.
Ojulari revealed that the refinery now operates above its full installed capacity, with performance indicators exceeding expectations. He described the output as a strong signal of Nigeria’s growing industrial capability.
“This plant has been tested beyond its designed capacity. The live parameters we are seeing confirm outstanding performance. Every Nigerian should be proud that such an industrial masterpiece exists in our country,” he added.
The NNPCL boss also disclosed that discussions during the visit covered plans to expand the facility through replication of existing infrastructure, a move expected to significantly boost production capacity while reducing capital costs.
“The expansion plan will allow us to double capacity by leveraging existing common facilities. This means higher output at a much lower capital expenditure,” he explained.
Ojulari congratulated Dangote and his team for the landmark achievement, reaffirming NNPCL’s position as a shareholder and expressing optimism that the refinery would transform Nigeria’s energy sector, reduce fuel imports, and strengthen economic stability.
Be the first to comment