Dangote Partners with Honeywell, Nvidia, and Dell to Deploy AI at Africa’s Largest Refinery
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US tech firm Honeywell has deployed its new industrial artificial intelligence platform, Forge Plant Cognition, at the Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos. Developed in collaboration with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies, the platform aims to boost efficiency, enhance profitability, and support the refinery’s goal to expand its processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd).
Honeywell estimates the AI technology could generate operational gains exceeding 29 cents per barrel. Based on full-capacity operations, this could yield around $60 million in gross annual benefits, though Honeywell notes these figures are not guaranteed.
### Scaling Up to 1.4 Million BPD
The AI rollout is part of a broader partnership between Honeywell and the Dangote refinery. Honeywell is providing technology and infrastructure to support an expansion plan aimed at more than doubling the facility’s current baseline capacity of 650,000 bpd to 1.4 million bpd by 2028. Achieving this scale would solidify the refinery’s influence in global oil markets and significantly boost its export capabilities across Africa and international destinations.
This initiative coincides with strong financial results for the refinery. Dangote Petroleum Refinery reported a net income of $4.725 billion for the nine months ending September 30, recovering from a loss during the same period in the previous year. Revenue more than doubled to $22.5 billion as crude processing reached up to 700,000 bpd.
### Growing Footprint in Africa
Beyond Nigeria, Honeywell is broadening its reach within the African refining sector. In September, the company secured an estimated $300 million contract to supply engineering services, technology, and equipment for a proposed $16 billion refinery in Kenya.
By adapting engineering frameworks created for the Dangote project, Honeywell expects to accelerate the Kenyan facility’s development timeline by almost two years. The upcoming Kenyan plant is designed to supply petrol, diesel, and jet fuel locally, with additional output intended for export across East Africa.
