Nigeria has emerged as a major supplier of crude oil to Senegal’s only refinery, the 30,000-barrels-per-day Dakar Refinery, even as Senegal marked its recent entry into the ranks of oil-producing nations.

According to data from energy analytics firm Kpler, Senegal began oil production in mid-2024 from the Sangomar field, with an output of about 100,000 barrels per day of medium sour crude (31° API, 1.0% sulphur). However, most of this crude is exported to Europe, with Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands being the primary destinations.

Despite its oil production milestone, Senegal is unable to refine Sangomar’s crude locally. The country’s Dakar Refinery is configured for lighter, sweeter crude grades, making the heavier, more sulphurous Sangomar crude unsuitable for direct processing.

Instead, the refinery has turned to Nigeria’s Erha crude (36° API, 0.2% sulphur), which aligns with its specifications. Kpler reports that in recent months, Dakar has consistently imported around 30,000 barrels per day of Erha from Nigeria, underscoring Nigeria’s crucial role in sustaining Senegal’s refinery operations.

Industry experts note that crude oil refineries are typically designed for specific feedstock types. In Senegal’s case, while its refinery is optimized for light, low-sulphur crude, its domestically produced Sangomar crude would require blending before it could be refined locally.

Nonetheless, Nigeria’s crude supply only covers a fraction of Senegal’s fuel needs. The country still depends heavily on refined fuel imports. Between 2024 and 2025, Senegal imported an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 barrels per day of refined products, with Russia supplying 50–60% of that volume, primarily gasoil, diesel, and fuel oil.

This dynamic highlights a unique energy balance where Senegal, though an oil producer, relies on Nigeria for crude refinery feedstock while depending on Russia for much of its refined fuel imports.

Looking ahead, Phase 2 of the Sangomar project—expected to include 33 new wells and a potential 2027 start-up—aims to sustain crude output at around 100,000 barrels per day in the coming years. Until then, Nigeria’s Erha crude and Russian refined products remain the mainstay of Senegal’s domestic energy supply.

Meanwhile, concerns about inadequate local crude supply continue to affect refineries in the region. Notably, the Dangote Refinery has indicated that it increasingly depends on crude imports from the United States to sustain fuel production levels.