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Canadian aerospace manufacturer Bombardier Inc. has thrown its weight behind Aliko Dangote’s multibillion-dollar refinery, calling the Nigerian facility a benchmark for global energy projects and a potential catalyst for Africa’s aviation sector.
Pierre Beaudoin, Bombardier’s chairman, led a high-level delegation to tour the Dangote Petroleum Refinery—billed as the world’s largest single-train refinery—and described its jet fuel production as both environmentally advanced and strategically vital. “The refinery makes jet fuel in large quantity, and that is good for the industry,” Beaudoin said during the visit. “From what I understand, their jet fuel is environmentally friendly, taking the sulphur out, and that is exceptional.”
Beaudoin added that the project represents a shift in global expectations for African industrial capacity. “This is a world-class project,” he said. “It’s going to turn on innovation in Africa. It represents a lot because it means that the best project possible in the world, from a refinery perspective, is in Nigeria.”
The Bombardier delegation, which included Regional Vice Presidents Hani Haddadin and Chris Davey as well as Corporate Director Jean Bernier, presented a prototype Bombardier aircraft to Dangote as a symbolic gesture of support. The aerospace giant’s endorsement signals confidence in the refinery’s ability to supply consistent, high-quality jet fuel—a critical issue for carriers facing volatile supply chains and stricter emissions standards.
Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of the Dangote Group, personally guided the Bombardier team through the refinery’s sprawling complex, accompanied by Devakumar Edwin, the group’s vice president for oil and gas. Dangote stressed that the facility was designed to meet emission and effluent standards set by the World Bank, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the European Union, and Nigeria’s own Department of Petroleum Resources.
“The refinery was built to world-class standards and produces petroleum products that meet international specifications,” Dangote said. “We have enough capacity to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand while exporting surplus products globally.”
Beyond fuel supply, Dangote positioned the refinery as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s energy security strategy. He suggested that the plant could serve as a national reserve in times of crisis or disruptions like the pandemic, reducing the country’s vulnerability to global shocks.
The refinery, which also houses a petrochemical complex, is one of the few globally executed entirely in-house by its owner as an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor—a move Dangote said ensured tight quality control and efficiency.
Bombardier’s visit adds international weight to the refinery’s ambitions, reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a potential energy hub for Africa while highlighting Dangote’s broader vision to drive industrial self-reliance across the continent.
