Nigeria supplies crude to Dakar Refinery in Senegal as local Sangomar oil proves unsuitable, while Russia dominates fuel imports
Nigeria has emerged as a crucial supplier of crude to Senegal’s 30,000-barrels-per-day Dakar Refinery, despite the West African nation celebrating its entry into the ranks of oil producers last year.
Also read: NNPC signs new crude agreement with Dangote for two years
Industry data shows that Senegal’s refinery cannot process its own Sangomar crude—producing around 100,000 barrels per day of medium sour oil because it was built to run on lighter, sweeter grades.
Instead, the refinery has turned to Nigeria’s Erha crude (36° API, 0.2% sulphur), which perfectly fits its configuration.
According to energy analytics firm Kpler, Dakar has imported about 30,000 barrels per day of Nigerian Erha crude in recent months, underlining Nigeria’s role as a lifeline for Senegal’s refining system.
“Senegal’s Dakar refinery, configured to process lighter, sweeter crudes, is currently running on Nigeria’s Erha crude, with imports averaging 30 kbd,” Kpler reported.
Meanwhile, virtually all of Senegal’s Sangomar production is exported to Europe, with Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands taking the bulk of cargoes.
However, Nigeria’s supply only partially covers Senegal’s domestic fuel demand. The country still depends heavily on refined product imports, particularly from Russia.
Between 2024 and 2025, Senegal imported 90,000–100,000 barrels per day of fuels, with as much as 60% sourced from Russia, mostly gasoil, diesel, and fuel oil.
Kpler noted that Sangomar crude could be blended to make it suitable for local refining, but until then, Senegal’s refining system remains dependent on Nigerian feedstock and Russian finished fuels.
With Phase 2 of the Sangomar project under review—potentially adding 33 new wells by 2027—Senegal’s crude exports are expected to remain steady at 100,000 barrels per day.
This comes at a time when Nigeria’s own refining sector is under strain.
Also read: Nigeria crude oil exports decline despite higher production
The Dangote Refinery, which recently began production, has admitted it is increasingly relying on U.S. crude imports to sustain daily operations due to insufficient local supply.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
