Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery reported normal operations on Wednesday after a fire occurred at its effluent treatment plant.
Videos showing dark smoke from the 650,000 barrel-per-day facility had circulated online, causing public concern.
The refinery, located in Lekki, about 80 kilometers east of Lagos, was built at a cost of $20 billion by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
Anthony Chiejina, a spokesperson for Dangote, confirmed the incident, stating, “We have swiftly contained a minor fire incident at our effluent treatment plant (ETP). There is no cause for alarm as the refinery is operating and there is no recorded injury or body harm to all our staff on duty.”
Chiejina did not provide details on the cause of the fire.
The refinery, which began production in January, is set to become the largest in Africa and Europe once it reaches full capacity.
This development could significantly alter the Europe-to-Africa fuel trade and position Nigeria as a fuel exporter.
However, gasoline deliveries from the refinery have been delayed until July, according to Dangote.
