- Dangote Oil Refinery commenced polypropylene production at Lagos facility
- The refinery aimed to produce 77 types of polypropylene, boosting Nigeria's industrial sector
- Full-scale operations set to make Dangote the largest polypropylene producer in Africa
The Dangote Oil Refinery has officially commenced the startup of its polypropylene facility in Lagos, with plans for its official unveiling soon.
Polypropylene, a synthetic fabric derived from petroleum-based thermoplastic polymers, is primarily sourced from propylene gas, a by-product of oil and natural gas production.
Dangote polypropylene facility to boost jobs
It is widely used in the production of various products, including plastic packaging, machinery parts, fibres, textiles, piping systems, and medical equipment, among others.
Devakumar Edwin, Group Executive Director of Strategy, Capital Projects & Portfolio Development at Dangote Industries Limited, provided an update regarding the refinery’s progress.
He pointed out that the Dangote Petrochemical plant was set to attract substantial investment to Nigeria’s downstream industries, creating jobs, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflow, and contributing to the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
"We have the capacity to produce 77 types of polypropylene for various uses, and the plant can produce around 900,000 tonnes annually. Our petrochemical plant is set to become the largest in Africa," Edwin said in a statement last year.
Dangote to become Africa’s largest polypropylene producer
He also addressed the current challenge of importing raw materials for polypropylene production, noting that the new facility would reduce the need for foreign currency expenditure by producing locally.
"The availability of raw materials locally will encourage more investments in the economy, providing savings in foreign exchange and benefiting the country’s downstream sector," he added.
Recall that Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote had expressed hopes that the complex would meet approximately 250,000 metric tonnes per year of Nigeria's domestic demand for polypropylene, particularly in plastic packaging and textiles.
Upon full operation, the Dangote refinery is expected to become the largest polypropylene production facility in Africa, with two units capable of producing 500,000 tonnes per year and 330,000 tonnes per year, respectively.
Africa’s largest refinery, Dangote, exports first PMS to Cameroon
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Dangote Refinery, in partnership with Neptune Oil, shipped Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Cameroon.
Dangote expressed that the achievement was made possible by the strategic alliance between the two companies, reinforcing their dedication to boosting Nigeria-Cameroon economic relations.