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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially commenced production of petroleum products in Lagos, Nigeria. The petroleum refinery is deemed to be one of Africa’s largest on many scales. The Dangote Group planned the construction of a world-class new refinery. The project aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported energy and avail close to 30,000 new jobs. To support the drive for growth, Africa is looking to reduce reliance on imports; producing more of its own energy and raw materials. In Nigeria, this drive is led by businesses such as the Dangote Group of Companies, which is putting the finishing touches on the continent’s largest oil refinery in Lekki Free Zone, Lagos State. It was a project that required some truly massive moves. The implementation and construction of the project was assigned to the US-headquartered Mammoet company.
The Challenges Faced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Project During Construction.
One of the major challenges that Mammoet faced during the construction of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery project is heavy lifting. Transportation of the equipment to the transportation site also proved a challenge. For instance, the journey from Dangote’s new, purpose-built jetty to the construction site was more of a commute than a transportation; covering some 10km. Over 52,000t of components were planned for construction – including a 2,000t crude column that is the largest ever fabricated, and the heaviest. On the challenge of heavy lifting, two of Mammoet’s largest super heavy lift ring cranes – the PTC 200 DS and PT 50 – completed key lifts at the refinery. The combination of mobility offered by crawler cranes on site and the ring cranes’ sheer lifting power – over 3,000t. This meant equipment was on-site to meet a wide range of lift requirements.
The Significance of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Project.
Once fully operational, the refinery will process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It will transform the local economy, creating thousands of jobs. It will also help to secure a more prosperous future for African industry. The project also improved some of the roads that were used in the transportation of the materials needed for the construction. Following discussions early in the project, Mammoet advised Dangote on roads that needed civil works to support the planned traffic. The scope entailed the widening and leveling turns. Works were undertaken to ensure that these roads were well prepared for the weight of cargo they would carry. Furthermore, particular interest was placed on the ones between the site and its jetty. |
