- Senegal exports almost all of its 100,000 barrels per day to European buyers.
- Nigeria’s Erha crude remains central to operations at Dakar refinery.
Industry data from Kpler shows that Senegal’s 30,000-barrel-per-day Dakar Refinery depends heavily on Nigerian supply. The refinery is configured for lighter crude, and Nigeria’s Erha, with 36° API and very low sulphur, perfectly fits its system.
By contrast, the Sangomar oil field produces medium sour crude at 31° API. This type is unsuited to the Dakar facility, making local refining impossible without blending. For now, nearly all of Senegal’s new crude is shipped abroad. Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands remain its key markets.
However, dependence on imports has persisted. Between 2024 and 2025, Senegal imported between 90,000 and 100,000 barrels per day of refined products. Notably, about 60 per cent of these supplies came from Russia. The imports included diesel, gasoil, and fuel oil.
This situation highlights Senegal’s paradox. The country exports nearly all its own crude yet still depends on Nigeria for feedstock and Russia for finished fuel. As a result, energy security remains fragile despite rising production.
Kpler projects that Sangomar’s output will remain near 100,000 barrels per day. Phase Two, which includes 33 additional wells, may only begin by 2027. Until then, Nigeria’s Erha crude and Russian refined fuels will continue to underpin Senegal’s energy mix.
The broader picture extends beyond Senegal. Nigeria itself still battles refinery shortages. The Dangote Refinery recently sourced crude from the United States to maintain production. This reflects Africa’s wider refining dilemma: abundant crude production but limited capacity to process it domestically.
Ultimately, Senegal exports oil to Europe but runs its refinery on Nigerian supply. This contrast shows the promise and the challenges of Africa’s energy landscape.