World’s Largest Atmospheric Tower Is En Route To World’s Biggest Oil Facility – And It’s In West Africa

A massive atmospheric crude oil tower just left China and it will dock at Nigeria in the next few weeks, after which it will be installed at the world’s biggest oil facility; Nigeria Dangote Refinery.

Somewhere on the outskirts of Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, is an ongoing mammoth project unlike any other. The location of the project is a vast area of swampland in the Lekki area and the brain behind it is Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who has put his money where his mouth is by setting aside USD 12 Bn for the project.

Dangote is looking to build the world’s largest petroleum refinery in Nigeria and to make it all come together, he’s had to really push the limits. And on the latest edition of “Pushing The Limits,” Aliko Dangote’s refinery complex will soon take delivery of the world’s largest atmospheric tower which has just set sail from China.

The atmospheric crude tower, which helps in processing heavy crude oils, will be installed at the world’s biggest single-train facility – Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery.

“On July 29, the world’s largest atmospheric tower built by Sinopec slowly left a Wharf in Ningbo. Following the Maritime Silk Road, it will travel to Nigeria and be installed at the world’s biggest single-train facility – Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery,” Sinopec said in a tweet on Monday with pictures of the equipment attached.

On July 29, the world’s largest atmospheric tower built by Sinopec slowly left a wharf in Ningbo. Following the Maritime #SilkRoad, it will travel to #Nigeria and be installed at the world’s biggest single-train facility – Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery. pic.twitter.com/8zBJesejn1

— Sinopec (@SinopecNews) July 29, 2019

With a diameter of 12 metres, a length of 112.56 metres and a unit weight of 2,252 tons, the Nigeria-bound atmospheric tower is the biggest of its kind.

“It is the largest diameter, longest length, and the heaviest single-unit equipment in domestic export equipment. It will be installed in the world’s largest single-series refinery – the 32.5 million tonne/year Dangote refinery in Nigeria,” the Chinese firm said in a statement on its website.

Dangote, one of the world’s top 100 richest men, is building a USD 12 Bn oil refinery complex and petrochemical complex in the Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) Free Trade Zone in Lekki, Lagos; a project he himself describes as “crazy.”

Upon completion and once fully up and running, the Dangote Refinery will be Nigeria’s first private oil refinery and the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery, with an expected production capacity of 600,000 barrels per day.

The project is expected to generate 9,500 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians and foreign expats, and that’s according to the more modest projections.

During last year’s inaugural edition of the Lagos-Kano Economic and Investment Summit, Dangote had stated that the refinery will rake in USD 26.2 Bn for Nigeria annually.

Featured Image Courtesy: pulse.ng