Honeywell Technologies has introduced a new AI-driven industrial platform at the Dangote refinery, aligning with the company’s efforts to enhance productivity and increase the facility’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day.
The platform, named Forge Plant Cognition, is being deployed at the refinery located in Lekki, Lagos. This initiative merges Honeywell’s advanced industrial technology with innovations from NVIDIA and Dell Technologies, aiming to optimize productivity and profitability within intricate industrial operations, as stated in a company release on Monday.
Honeywell’s preliminary evaluations indicate that the AI platform could yield operational advantages exceeding 29 cents for each barrel processed at the Dangote refinery. Should the refinery reach its full capacity, this could result in an estimated $60 million in gross annual gains; however, the company has noted that these figures are not guaranteed, as reported by Reuters.
Honeywell Aims for Increased Capacity
The introduction of this AI platform builds upon Honeywell’s ongoing partnership with the Dangote refinery, where the company is already supplying technology and support for an expansion project aimed at more than doubling the refinery’s nameplate capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028.
This expansion is expected to bolster the refinery’s presence in global oil markets and enhance its capacity to distribute refined petroleum products throughout Africa and beyond.
Strong Financial Performance Reported
Recent developments come as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exhibits robust financial results. The refinery reported a net income of $4.725 billion for the nine months ending September 30, marking a significant turnaround from a loss during the same period last year. Revenue surged to $22.5 billion as the facility processed up to 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
Honeywell’s Expanding Role in Africa
In addition to its work in Nigeria, Honeywell is extending its footprint in Africa’s refining sector. In September, the company secured a contract for engineering services, technology, and equipment for a proposed $16 billion refinery in Kenya, valued at approximately $300 million.
Honeywell mentioned that utilizing engineering designs from the Nigerian project could potentially reduce the development timeline for the Kenyan refinery by nearly two years. This new facility is anticipated to produce petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for domestic use while also supplying markets across East Africa.
