Nigeria has emerged as a vital source of crude oil for Senegal’s 30,000-barrels-per-day (kbd) Dakar Refinery, despite Senegal’s recent entry into the league of oil-producing nations.
Senegal began pumping oil in mid-2024 from the Sangomar field, which produces about 100,000 barrels per day of medium sour crude (31° API, 1.0% sulphur), according to industry analyst Kpler. Most of this production is exported to Europe, with Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands taking the majority of shipments.
However, the Sangomar crude cannot be processed locally, as the Dakar Refinery is designed for lighter, sweeter grades of oil. Instead, the facility has turned to Nigeria’s Erha crude (36° API, 0.2% sulphur), which fits its processing configuration. Kpler reports that imports of Erha into Dakar have averaged 30 kbd in recent months, making Nigeria a lifeline for Senegal’s refining system.
Industry experts note that refineries are typically built for specific crude specifications. The Dakar plant’s reliance on Erha underscores the mismatch between Senegal’s own production and its refining capacity. Sangomar crude would require blending before being usable at home.
Yet, Nigeria’s crude only covers part of Senegal’s energy needs. Between 2024 and 2025, Senegal imported 90–100 kbd of refined fuels, with 50–60% sourced from Russia—mainly gasoil, diesel, and fuel oil. This leaves Senegal dependent on Nigeria for refinery feedstock and Russia for finished fuel imports.
Looking ahead, Phase 2 of the Sangomar project—set to add 33 new wells by 2027—could sustain crude output at 100 kbd in the coming years. Until then, Nigeria’s Erha crude and Russian fuel products are expected to remain central to Senegal’s energy balance.
Meanwhile, Nigerian refiners have raised concerns over limited crude allocations at home, with the Dangote refinery increasingly turning to U.S. crude supplies to maintain production.
Source:Africa Publicity
