Environment Africa Magazine

BREAKING NEWS

WAPCo To Commence Major Inspection and Maintenance Project on its Offshore Pipeline - WAPCo To Commence Major Inspection and Maintenance Project on its Offshore Pipeline - WAPCo To Commence Major Inspection and Maintenance Project on its Offshore Pipeline - WAPCo To Commence Major Inspection and Maintenance Project on its Offshore Pipeline - WAPCo To Commence Major Inspection and Maintenance Project on its Offshore Pipeline - WAPCo To Commence Major Inspection and Maintenance Project on its Offshore Pipeline - Otuabagi: Unserved and Neglected - A Plea for Renewable Energy - Otuabagi: Unserved and Neglected - A Plea for Renewable Energy - Otuabagi: Unserved and Neglected - A Plea for Renewable Energy - Otuabagi: Unserved and Neglected - A Plea for Renewable Energy

Health

Lagos Primary Health Care Board and Ministry of Health collaborate with WaterAid on WASHFITs Training

The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) and the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WaterAid Nigeria, have trained 48 healthcare officers from the six health districts in Lagos State on the use of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Facility…

Energy

NEITI Commends NNPCL on Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries Resumption As Major Step Toward Energy Self-Sufficiency

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has hailed the resumption of operations at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries as a monumental achievement for Nigeria’s energy sector. In a statement issued on Sunday, NEITI emphasized that these developments are…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, one of Africa’s largest and most ambitious refinery projects, is set to receive 12 million barrels of crude oil from the United States, according to The Africa Report. This development underscores the challenges the $20 billion facility faces as it struggles with insufficient local crude supply to meet its refining goals. The shipment, which departed the U.S. recently, is expected to arrive in Nigeria by February, further highlighting the growing reliance on international sources to fuel the refinery’s operations. The Dangote refinery, located in Lekki, Lagos State, aims to ramp up its refining capacity to 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) by June 2025. However, local supply issues have hindered progress. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the country’s state oil company, has faced difficulties in meeting its obligations to supply enough crude oil to the refinery. An insider source told The Africa Report, “About 12 million barrels of crude have departed the US and should arrive in Nigeria by February.” This import is a strategic move to ensure the refinery’s production targets are met amid local supply shortages. While the Dangote refinery has already increased its output to about 500,000 bpd, achieving its target of 650,000 bpd by mid-year remains a significant challenge without steady access to crude oil. NNPC is currently struggling to provide the Dangote refinery with the 350,000 bpd required from the 450,000 bpd allocated for Nigeria’s domestic consumption. This mismatch has led refinery officials to look beyond Nigeria’s borders for the necessary feedstock. According to a refinery official, “Currently, we are at 500,000 bpd; we will ramp to 650,000 by midyear. You know what it means? So, it is a normal process to source crude oil anywhere it is available.” In response to the ongoing challenges, the Dangote refinery is actively seeking to bolster its crude oil storage capacity. The facility is constructing eight additional tanks, increasing its storage by 41.67% to a total of 3.4 billion liters. “Importing crude from other countries instead of buying locally means that our crude stockpiles will have to be higher,” explained Devakumar Edwin, Vice President in charge of the oil and gas business at Dangote Industries. The refinery’s decision to import crude oil comes at a time when President Bola Tinubu’s government has been pushing for a “naira-for-crude” deal. Since July 2024, the Nigerian government has directed the NNPC to sell crude oil to local refineries in naira, a move aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves. In October 2024, the government further restricted the sale of crude to only those refineries involved in petrol production, initially focusing on the Dangote refinery. Although the refinery is benefiting from the naira-for-crude arrangement, sources within the industry acknowledge that the NNPC’s crude supply remains insufficient. The Dangote refinery was expected to require 550,000 barrels of Nigerian crude daily to meet its full production needs, amounting to approximately 17 million barrels per month. However, with local supply falling short, Dangote has had no choice but to source additional crude from global markets. As part of its long-term strategy, the Dangote refinery had previously issued a term tender for two million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Midland crude monthly, for 12 months starting in July 2024. This tender for a total of 24 million barrels in one year is further evidence of the refinery’s growing dependence on international crude suppliers. The Dangote refinery is already playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s fuel production, supplying gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel both domestically and to international markets. Despite the logistical hurdles, the refinery remains optimistic about achieving its ambitious refining targets, with plans to expand its capacity and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products. Refinery officials are hopeful that the situation will improve as local crude supply stabilizes. However, the reliance on imported crude highlights the fragility of Nigeria’s oil supply chain and the challenges faced by the country’s refining industry. As the Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues its journey toward full capacity, the importation of crude oil from the United States marks a critical moment in the project’s development. Whether local suppliers, such as the NNPC, can meet the demand of such large-scale refineries in the future will be key to the country’s energy security and economic stability. The situation also emphasizes the need for continued reforms in Nigeria’s oil sector, with the government’s commitment to increasing the capacity of local refineries likely to play a pivotal role in the country’s energy future.

Oil & Gas

Dangote Refinery Faces Crude Oil Supply Challenges, Sources 12 Million Barrels from US

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, one of Africa’s largest and most ambitious refinery projects, is set to receive 12 million barrels of crude oil from the United States, according to The Africa Report. This development underscores the challenges the $20 billion…

Environment

Oando, Lagos Govt to Deploy 5,000 Electric Buses

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, said the plans of the oil company to partner with the Lagos State Government to deploy 5,000 electric commercial vehicles to the state are now in top gear. Tinubu said…

Energy

NNPCL, NIPCO, Axxela, Shell Among Beneficiaries as NMDPRA Approves Gas Licenses

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has commenced the rollout of gas licenses to qualified players in the sector, following frequent collapse of the national grid. The grid has so far recorded one collapse this year after…

Climate Change

Nigeria Climate Change Forum: SPP Set to Host High Level Panel on Subnational Climate Interventions

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) is set to host a High-Level panel session in collaboration with the Africa Climate Foundation (ACF) during the foremost Nigeria Climate Change Forum in Abuja. The High-level panel session is part of SPP’s…

Infrastructure

Lagos Governor SANWO-OLU Flags Off Reconstruction Of Oba Sanusi Olusi Memorial Health Centre

… As Lagos Island Local Government Undertakes Landmark Health Project in Oke-Arin The Lagos State Government and Lagos Island Local Government have flagged off the reconstruction of the historic John Street Health Centre into the Oba Sanusi Olusi Memorial Health…

Climate Change

Nigeria Leads the Charge: Climate Change Forum 2025 to Tackle Africa’s Sustainability Challenges

The Nigeria Climate Change Forum (NCCF) is set to take centerstage in Abuja, on the 28 – 29 th January 2025 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel. The forum will bring together key stakeholders towards prioritizing the implementation of Nigeria’s Nationally…

Energy

NIES 2025 International Session to Unlock Africa’s Energy Future Through FDI

One of the cornerstone sessions of the 2025 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), the International Panel, will spotlight the transformative role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in accelerating growth across Africa’s oil, gas, and power sectors. This pivotal session, themed…

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso has assured residents that the dividends of democracy will trickle down to the grassroots as the Sanwo-Olu administration continues to unveil new projects across local governments and local council development areas. Speaking at a media stakeholders forum held on Thursday in Ikeja, Omotoso noted that the New Massey Street Children’s Hospital project has reached an advanced stage and will be the biggest pediatric facility in West Africa. He projected that the facility will be set for commissioning later this year. The Commissioner mentioned that other projects in the health sector such as the 280-bed General Hospital in Ojo, the Psychiatric Hospital in Ketu Ejinrin as well as infrastructure upgrades at Ibeju-Lekki and Lagos General Hospitals will also expand resources available to residents for top-notch medical services. "This year, the vision of the present administration is to build on the gains of Y2024 through the commissioning of projects that would impact positively on communities, especially at the grassroots," Omotoso said. He called on young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the funding support provided by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and other initiatives of the Lagos State Government by applying for loans and grants to boost their trade. He noted that many startups have become stable and profitable through support from LSETF and other agencies of the Lagos State Government that provide financial support to growing business entities. Speaking on the benefits derived from tourism, Omotoso stated that Lagos will continue to explore initiatives in the sector to boost revenues, attract foreign exchange, and position Lagos as a truly competitive global destination. “This year, we are focused on making significant progress in revitalising cultural, religious, and recreational infrastructure across the State. Therefore, we will sustain efforts to restore the historic Elemoro Palace in Ibeju-Lekki and the Princess Erelu Kuti Tomb, commemorating one of Lagos’ most prominent historical figures”, he said. While maintaining that more initiatives propelled by the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda will be unveiled in Y2025, Omotoso gave assurance that the Sanwo-Olu administration will not abandon any ongoing project in Lagos State. The Commissioner expressed gratitude to media men for the publicity given to the giant strides of the Sanwo-Olu administration, just as he called for more support from community newspapers because they have gained prominence in creating awareness at the grassroots. "There will be more of such media engagements this year. We appreciate feedback from the media because you stay among the people who rely on you to bring the attention of the government to their needs," Omotoso said.

Infrastructure

Media Parley: Omotoso Reels Out Sanwo-Olu’s Achievements, Plans For Y2025

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso has assured residents that the dividends of democracy will trickle down to the grassroots as the Sanwo-Olu administration continues to unveil new projects across local governments and local council development areas.…