Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially begun exporting jet fuel to the United Kingdom, marking a major shift in global energy supply chains. The first cargo recently arrived at the Milford Haven port in Wales, as European buyers seek alternatives to traditional Middle Eastern sources.
The UK and other European nations are turning to West African refiners like Dangote to mitigate disruptions in the Middle East, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which historically handles about 40% of Europe’s jet fuel.
The 650,000 barrel-per-day facility in Lekki, Lagos, has ramped up its production to become a “swing supplier” for global markets.
Benchmark North-West European jet fuel prices have surged to approximately $1,744 per tonne—nearly double previous levels—due to these geopolitical tensions and supply constraints.
A source at the refinery confirmed that several European countries have become primary buyers, with BP recently securing a significant portion of a 120,000-metric-ton tender for export.
The UK is particularly vulnerable to these disruptions because it relies heavily on imports, sourcing roughly 25% of its jet fuel from Kuwait alone. To maintain stability, the UK government is now diversifying its intake with shipments from India, the US, the Netherlands, and now Nigeria.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni