For many years, Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has been a paradox: a nation swimming in crude but depending on imported refined gasoline.

Nonetheless, a brand new chapter has begun with the refining of maiden crude from the Dangote Refinery, a behemoth poised to alter the sport.

The refinery, funded at a price of $20 billion by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is being constructed at Lekki, on the outskirts of the industrial capital Lagos.

Here’s a breakdown of how the journey began.

2013 – The Imaginative and prescient Takes Form: Billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, broadcasts plans for a mega-refinery in Lekki, Lagos. The challenge, with an estimated value of $19 billion, is envisioned to be the only largest private-sector industrial growth in Africa.

2017 – However building didn’t begin until 2017, a growth some analysts say displays the failure of the federal government in Africa’s most populous nation to place in place an efficient help mechanism to take high-impact challenge plans from the drafting board to completion.

2019 – Hurdles and Milestones: Building faces challenges, together with financing delays and logistical hurdles. Nonetheless, key milestones are achieved, with the set up of main tools and the completion of important infrastructure.

2020 – Pandemic Disruption: The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic throws a wrench into the works, inflicting delays and provide chain disruptions. Regardless of the setback, building continues, albeit at a slower tempo.

Might 22, 2023- The Dangote Refinery was formally commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari. The occasion is hailed as a historic second for Nigeria, with hopes that the refinery will usher in a brand new period of gasoline self-sufficiency.

December 8, 2023-the refinery acquired its first cargo of crude oil, marking a serious milestone for the challenge. A cargo from Shell Worldwide Buying and selling and Delivery Firm Restricted (STASCO) containing a million barrels sailed from Agbami to Dangote Refinery’s Single Level Mooring (SPM) the place it was discharged into the refinery’s crude oil tanks.

The 1-million-barrel cargo is the primary of a 6-million-barrel dedication from the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm (NNPC).

December 20, 2023- The refinery acquired its second crude cargo, one other a million barrels of oil from Shell Worldwide Buying and selling and Delivery, because it steps up preparations to start operations, an organization spokesperson stated.

December 28 2023- The most important single-train refinery acquired its third one-million-barrel crude oil cargo from STASCO, bringing the full to a few million barrels on the facility’s Single-Level Mooring.

January 1 2024-The refinery acquired its fourth crude provide of 1 million barrels of bonny mild oil from the NNPC.

January 6, 2024- Dangote Petroleum Refinery, acquired the fifth crude oil cargo of 1 million barrels of Bonny Mild provided by the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Restricted.

January 12 2024- The Dangote Refinery began manufacturing. The most important single-train refinery on the planet positioned in Nigeria’s industrial hub started operations within the early hours of Friday.