• Togo to receive fuel shipments from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery

• Refinery exports 456,000 tons to five African countries

• Move aims to cut import costs, diversify regional fuel supply

Togo is among the first African countries to receive refined petroleum products from the Dangote Oil Refinery, Nigeria's newest private operator in the sector, which has rapidly expanded into regional markets since early 2026.

According to recent data cited by several media outlets, the refinery has exported 12 cargoes of refined petroleum products, totaling approximately 456,000 metric tons, to five African countries, including Togo. The deliveries follow the refinery reaching full production capacity, estimated at 650,000 barrels per day, in February 2026.

The development comes as several African countries face high import costs and risks of supply disruptions, partly linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Africa imports most of its refined petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, due to limited local refining capacity, despite being a major crude oil exporter. In West Africa, supplies have traditionally come mainly from Europe, particularly the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub, as well as from Asia.

The Dangote refinery, which produces fuels meeting Euro 5 standards, aims to establish itself as a major supplier in the subregion and could benefit from ongoing disruptions in global supply chains.

In Lomé, few details are available on the initial fuel purchases. The transactions align with efforts to diversify import sources and secure fuel supply. Nigeria's proximity could also reduce delivery times and transportation costs.

Separately, the port of Lomé’s transshipment role for countries in the Gulf of Guinea creates opportunities for Togo to position itself in the regional redistribution of petroleum products.

Over time, this could reshape fuel supply patterns across the continent, which has historically relied on imports from Europe.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi