Nigeria’s flagship refining project, Dangote Refinery, is forecasting about 600 tanker movements each year as it moves toward its full production target of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd), a development expected to boost maritime traffic and reshape the country’s refined petroleum trade.

Officials overseeing marine operations at the facility disclosed that roughly 800 vessels have already called at the terminal since operations began, describing the figure as a strong indicator of early performance.

Head of Marine Operations at the refinery, Satendra Rana, said during a recent facility tour that the terminal’s design is capable of managing increased shipping activity as production scales up. According to him, the projected annual vessel calls will include both crude oil deliveries and shipments of refined products.

The refinery commenced production in January 2024, initially supplying diesel and aviation fuel. Petrol output followed in September 2024, with production levels rising steadily since then. At full capacity, the plant is expected to process 650,000 barrels of crude daily into petrol, diesel, jet fuel and other derivatives.

Terminal operators noted that the facility’s infrastructure is built for rapid vessel turnaround, typically completing loading or discharge operations within 24 hours, while larger tankers may take up to 36 hours.

The refinery’s marine terminal operates five offshore Single Point Mooring (SPM) buoys—two dedicated to crude imports and three for exporting finished products—positioned in deepwater locations to accommodate large vessels without extensive dredging.

Officials added that the offshore system allows the terminal to receive some of the world’s biggest crude carriers, including ships capable of transporting up to three million barrels in a single trip.

Industry observers say the expected rise in tanker traffic could significantly influence Nigeria’s logistics network and energy supply chain, positioning the refinery as a major hub for petroleum distribution across Africa.