Dangote Petroleum Refinery is set to deploy a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform expected to deliver more than $60 million in annual operational benefits when the facility operates at full capacity.
The technology, called Forge Plant Cognition, was developed by Honeywell Technologies in collaboration with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies. It combines artificial intelligence, industrial engineering expertise and advanced computing systems to improve refinery operations.
Honeywell said the Lekki-based facility would be the first industrial plant to introduce the platform globally, marking a new phase in the adoption of digital technology in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Preliminary estimates suggest the system could generate operational benefits of more than 29 cents for every barrel processed. At full capacity, the cumulative benefits could exceed $60 million annually, depending on operating conditions.
The platform is designed to help refinery operators identify production bottlenecks, detect potential equipment failures early and make faster decisions to improve output and operational efficiency.
Unlike conventional monitoring tools that primarily analyse data and provide recommendations, Forge Plant Cognition combines live operational information with engineering knowledge and physics-based models to help engineers identify problems and determine appropriate solutions.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, David Bird, said the decision to adopt the technology was driven by the company’s commitment to improving performance and embracing innovation.
He explained that the platform would help the refinery maximise the value of its operations while supporting the development of Nigerian engineering professionals.
Honeywell’s President of UOP, Rajesh Gattupalli, said the partnership demonstrated the potential of digital technology to improve productivity, reliability and profitability in large industrial facilities.
The deployment is also expected to strengthen local technical expertise by giving Nigerian engineers and plant operators access to advanced tools for solving complex operational challenges.
The initiative supports Dangote Refinery’s plan to build a workforce made up of more than 70 per cent Nigerians, reducing its reliance on foreign specialists and expanding domestic engineering capacity.
The adoption of the AI platform signals a shift towards technology-driven operations as the refinery seeks to increase productivity, reduce unplanned shutdowns and improve its competitiveness in the global petroleum market.
