The Ghanaian government has announced plans to begin importing petrol from Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery as part of a strategy to boost its energy security. This initiative, proposed by Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPAG), aims to reduce Ghana’s reliance on more costly fuel imports from Europe, while also strengthening business ties within West Africa.
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, NPAG’s Chief Executive Officer, shared the update during the 2024 OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week held in Lagos, Nigeria. The annual event, now in its 18th year, is centered on the theme “Alliances for Growth.”
Abdul-Hamid highlighted that an agreement with the Dangote Refinery would not only make fuel supplies more affordable for Ghana but would also enhance regional cooperation. “The Dangote Refinery, with its large-scale output, is expected to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand, enabling excess production to be exported to Ghana,” he said.
Ghana has expanded its energy exports to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, including supplying U.S. military bases in the region. The country’s recent pipeline agreement with Burkina Faso was also highlighted as a successful model for regional energy partnerships.
As part of his remarks, Abdul-Hamid emphasized the importance of a shared currency, improved infrastructure, and unified regional strategies to address energy challenges in West Africa.
Though the Dangote Refinery has faced some controversy in Nigeria, particularly regarding its dealings with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, it remains a key player in providing refined petroleum to its home country and neighboring regions.
This new collaboration represents a step toward more sustainable and economically beneficial energy security strategies for Ghana and West Africa as a whole.
