Omanghana
Honeywell has introduced an industrial artificial intelligence platform at Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery, with preliminary estimates indicating that the system could generate more than $60 million in gross annual operational benefits at full capacity.
Developed in collaboration with NVIDIA and Dell Technologies, the platform is making its global debut at the Lekki-based facility in Lagos, the world’s largest single-train refinery. It combines advanced computing, real-time operational data and physics-based models to improve refinery performance.
The system extends beyond predictive maintenance, helping operators identify production bottlenecks, assess operating conditions and adjust processes to improve efficiency. Honeywell estimates that these improvements could deliver operational benefits exceeding 29 cents per barrel.
At the center of the deployment is the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, which provides the computing infrastructure for real-time analysis and plant optimization. Specialized AI agents powered by NVIDIA Nemotron open models help interpret complex operational information and make it more accessible to refinery personnel.
The platform also uses NVIDIA Omniverse and PhysicsNeMo to create a digital representation of the refinery. This “digital twin” supports simulations, operational planning and training, allowing teams to evaluate potential changes before applying them at the plant.
Additional monitoring capabilities come from vision AI agents built using NVIDIA Cosmos and Metropolis VSS blueprints. These tools analyze visual information from the facility to detect unusual conditions and issue alerts.
The deployment supports Dangote’s plans to expand refining capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028. Improved process control and faster identification of constraints are expected to support that growth.
Workforce development is another priority. By incorporating specialist engineering knowledge into AI-assisted workflows, the refinery aims to accelerate local training and support its target of having Nigerians account for 70% of its workforce. The approach could also help reduce reliance on foreign engineering contractors.
The relationship between Honeywell and Dangote is extending beyond Nigeria. Honeywell has also been selected to support the development of a proposed regional mega-refinery in Kenya’s Lamu County.
The projected financial gains at the Lagos refinery remain preliminary and will depend on the platform’s performance under full-capacity operating conditions.
Source:Omanghana
