The $20 billion refinery, built by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote on the outskirts of Lagos is Africa's largest, and is designed to end Nigeria's dependence on imported fuels because of insufficient refining capacity.

Since Dangote began operations in January, it has been unable to get adequate crude supplies in Nigeria, which, although Africa's biggest oil producer, is struggling with theft, pipeline vandalism and low investment.

Dangote has resorted to importing crude from as far as Brazil and the United States.

"We are talking to Libya about importing crude," Dangote refinery Senior Executive Devakumar Edwin told Reuters. "We will talk to Angola as well and some other countries in Africa."

He declined to give details about the talks but said international traders and oil companies were among the biggest buyers of Dangote's gasoil, much of which was being exported.

"The biggest offtakers are the two big traders Trafigura and Vitol and BP and, to some extent, even Total Energies. But all of them are saying they are taking it offshore," Edwin said.

Traders and shipping data have shown that Dangote is increasing gasoil exports to West Africa, taking market share from European refiners.

Edwin said Dangote's oil trading arm was operational, with staff in London and Lagos, to help manage supplies and sell products. Reuters first reported the planned trading arm in March.

Nigeria's upstream regulator has clashed with Dangote, saying the sulphur content in its gasoil was above the required limits of 200 parts per million (ppm).

Aliko Dangote has denied that, saying the sulphur level was higher when production started, but had fallen to 88 ppm and would sink to 10 ppm in early August as output rises.

--Reuters--