The highly anticipated deployment of 4,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been stalled, with only 450 vehicles delivered so far due to shipping bottlenecks from China.
A top Dangote Group official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed the setback. “There are not enough ships coming from China to handle 4,000 trucks and 4,000 tankers,” the official disclosed. “Two hundred arrived in the first ship, another 250 have been offloaded, and we are expecting 150 more next week.”
The refinery had initially targeted 600 trucks by mid-August, but logistical disruptions mean the rollout has been scaled back. Reports had earlier suggested the launch would begin on August 15, 2025.
Despite the delays, Dangote remains committed to the ₦720bn investment, which aims to deploy 4,000 CNG-powered trucks nationwide. The fleet, already being received through Apapa Port, is expected to cut annual gasoline distribution costs by about ₦1.7 trillion and strengthen supply chain efficiency.
The refinery, currently operating at about 85% of its 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity, views the CNG trucks as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel-powered tankers.
Last week, the company held discussions with major stakeholders, including the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), to ease concerns over possible job losses in the fuel distribution sector. Dangote assured that the new logistics model would integrate existing players to minimize disruptions.
While logistics challenges have slowed the rollout, industry watchers say the adoption of CNG-powered trucks marks a milestone for Nigeria’s downstream sector, promising long-term savings and reduced environmental impact.
