Dangote advances construction of Lekki integrated refining complex

Nigerian conglomerate Dangote Industries Ltd. (Dangote Group) subsidiary Dangote Oil Refining Co. is proceeding with installation of key equipment at its long-planned 650,000-b/d grassroots integrated refining and petrochemical complex now under construction in southwestern Nigeria’s Lekki Free Trade Zone (OGJ Online, Nov. 6, 2019; Nov. 25, 2013).

Sulzer Chemtech Ltd.—the sole supplier of column internals, packings, and trays for the project—has completed design and supply of internals for all of the refinery’s columns, which contractors are now currently installing at the site under guidance of Sulzer’s engineers, the service supplier said on July 6.

As a result of multiple rounds of design checks, engineering studies, and discussions with technology licensors, Sulzer Chemtech was able to redesign the internals for what was to be the complex’s previously planned 500,000-b/d refinery to suit its revised 650,000-b/d capacity without expanding the equipment footprint (OGJ Online, Apr. 27, 2017; Mar. 13, 2017).

The plant will not only help Nigeria meet its own fuel demand and become self-sufficient, but will also add Nigeria to the list of top global exporters of gasoline, diesel, aviation jet fuel, as well as other petrochemicals and petroleum-based products, such as polypropylene (PP), Sulzer Chemtech said.

Now scheduled to be completed by yearend 2022, Dangote’s $12-billion Lekki integrated complex—which will become the world’s largest single-train refinery upon commissioning—will include the 650,000-b/d crude distillation unit, a 3.6-million tonne/year PP plant, a 3-million tpy urea plant, and gas processing installations to accommodate 3 bcfd of natural gas that will be transported through 110 km of subsea pipeline to be built by Dangote Group (OGJ Online, Jan. 18, 2018; Nov. 9, 2017).

Sulzer Chemtech said the refinery will have various processing units containing more than 65 columns and requiring more than 15 static mixers. Major processing installations will include a residue fluid catalytic cracker, mild hydrocracker, alkylation unit, naphtha hydrofining unit, as well as continuous catalytic reforming units for production of gasoline and diesel meeting Euro 5-quality standards and jet fuel adhering to international aviation specifications.

The complex will be equipped to produce a combined 33 million tpy of petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, kerosine, aviation fuel, and other petrochemicals.