S07 ATR May 2022 African Construction Market_ATR - New Master Template 2016 26/04/2022 11:23 Page 30
CONSTRUCTION | LEKKI FREE ZONE
All eyes on Lekki Free Zone The countdown is on to the launch of Nigeria’s flagship Dangote refinery, as contractors complete the finishing touches to the giant steel structure in Lagos State. But first comes the massive fertiliser complex, commissioned this March by President Buhari.
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The refinery is expected to commence operations by Q3 2022.
Image Credit: Dangote
he countdown has begun to the launch of Nigeria’s flagship refinery later this year. As our new images reveal in this article, the Dangote refinery project is now nearing completion. According to the company’s group president, Aliko Dangote, start up is still on track for the third quarter of 2022. “The refinery will commence operation by the third quarter of 2022,” he said in an email statement to ATR at the end of January. “On the mechanical completion, we are almost finished but we have started hydro testing, almost 70% gone. Hopefully, before the end of Q3, operation will commence.” Several months on and work is now believed to be even more advanced, as the project edges towards completion. It’s an enormous undertaking for the company and a testament to Nigeria’s energy industry and the capabilities of the vast contracting team that have gathered from all around the world to build it. Although somewhat behind schedule – the refinery was originally anticipated in 2019 – it represents a landmark achievement for all involved.
The 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) refining facility is expected to transform domestic fuels production and hugely benefit the local economy. The project site covers a vast land mass of around 2,635 hectares within the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, Africa’s biggest city. As well as being the continent’s
biggest refinery when it launches, and the world’s largest single-train facility, it is hoped that the project will end the days of fuel imports and long queues at gas stations that are so familiar to all Nigerians. While the country remains Africa’s top crude oil producer, it has long been dependent on imported fuels to
It will be the world’s largest single-train facility.
meet domestic demand because of legacy issues with existing refineries. The new images of the refinery show an impressive feat of construction that has taken years to design and build. As well as overhauling Nigeria’s fuel production, the site has its own 400 MW power plant that is able to meet the total electricity requirements of Ibadan DisCo, the local distributor, underling the size of the project.
Image Credit: Dangote
Fertiliser plant
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AFRICAN REVIEW OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY | MAY 2022
Excitement is also building after the launch of another flagship project, the three million tonne fertiliser plant, also at Lekki Free Zone, within the periphery of the refinery. On 22 March, Dangote unveiled the state-of-the-art fertiliser plant, which cost of US$2.5bn, and will target both African and foreign markets. The plant, commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari
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