Ghana is moving to source refined petroleum products from Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery as part of efforts to stabilise domestic fuel supply and reduce dependence on overseas imports, amid ongoing capacity constraints at home.
The shift comes as West African countries push to strengthen regional energy supply chains and retain more value within the continent. With Ghana’s refining capacity limited and its main refinery struggling with operational and financial challenges, policymakers are increasingly looking to regional alternatives to ensure consistent fuel availability.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, has been positioned as a potential game-changer for the continent’s energy landscape. Ghana’s interest reflects a broader strategy to cut exposure to volatile global fuel markets, high freight costs, and foreign exchange pressures associated with importing refined petroleum products from Europe and other distant suppliers.
However, the development has been met with clarification from the Dangote Refinery. Officials at the refinery have denied claims that it is already importing fuels into Ghana, emphasising that discussions around regional supply arrangements are still evolving. The refinery has previously stated that its priority is to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand first before expanding exports across West Africa.
Energy analysts say Ghana’s consideration of Dangote underscores the structural issues facing its downstream petroleum sector. The Tema Oil Refinery, once central to national fuel security, has faced prolonged shutdowns and underinvestment, leaving the country heavily reliant on imported refined products.
Sourcing fuel from Nigeria could offer logistical and economic advantages, including shorter supply routes, reduced shipping costs, and improved regional trade integration under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It could also strengthen energy cooperation between two of West Africa’s largest economies.
Still, experts caution that long-term energy security for Ghana will require more than regional sourcing. Sustainable solutions, they argue, lie in reviving domestic refining capacity, improving sector governance, and diversifying the energy mix to reduce vulnerability to external shocks.
As discussions continue, Ghana’s move signals a pragmatic approach to addressing immediate fuel supply gaps while aligning with a wider continental push for energy self-reliance and industrial integration.
