European buyers are avoiding diesel from Nigeria’s Dangote refinery because it fails to meet the required European winter specifications and has sulphur levels above the accepted tolerance. This makes the product unsuitable for use in colder regions during winter.
The primary issue is the diesel’s performance in cold temperatures. A sample of the Dangote diesel had a cloud point of +8°C, while German winter standards require a cloud point of -7°C. The cloud point is the temperature at which wax crystals begin to form in the fuel, which can cause engines to stop running in cold weather.
The sample also showed a sulphur content of 36 parts per million (ppm), which exceeds the European Union’s mandated 10 ppm maximum for ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD).
With muted European demand, nearly all of the refinery’s seaborne diesel and gasoil loadings this year (about 97%) have been sold to West African nations such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo.
Dangote Refinery has indicated plans to begin producing winter-grade diesel that meets Euro VI standards by 2028, by which time it also aims to expand its capacity. The refinery had previously produced diesel with sulphur levels below 10ppm for export to meet Euro 5 standards in early 2025, but the current production does not seem to meet the stricter winter and sulphur requirements for the European market.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni