Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is set to become the first industrial facility to deploy Honeywell Technologies’ newly launched artificial intelligence platform, with the technology projected to generate more than $60 million in annual gross operational benefits at full refining capacity
The platform, known as Forge Plant Cognition, combines Honeywell’s process engineering expertise with NVIDIA’s artificial intelligence capabilities and Dell Technologies’ computing infrastructure to improve refining efficiency, maximise output and strengthen operational reliability
Honeywell said the platform would make its global debut at the Lekki-based refinery, one of the world’s largest, as the company seeks to demonstrate how artificial intelligence can improve the performance of complex industrial facilities
Preliminary assessments indicate that the technology could deliver operational benefits exceeding 29 cents per barrel processed At full-capacity throughput, this could translate into more than $60 million in annual gross benefits, although actual results will depend on operating conditions.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, David Bird, said the decision to adopt the technology reflected the company’s commitment to innovation, operational excellence and the development of Nigerian engineering talent
“We chose Honeywell Technologies’ Forge Plant Cognition because the platform can deliver unrivaled industrial expertise combined with differentiated AI capabilities to help us optimize performance, unlock greater value from our operations and evolve how we operate our assets,” Bird said
He added that the investment would support the refinery’s ambition to develop Nigerian professionals capable of operating complex industrial facilities to international standards
Unlike conventional monitoring systems that analyse operating data and generate recommendations, Forge Plant Cognition integrates real-time plant information with engineering knowledge, advanced calculations and physics-based models to identify constraints and support faster operational decisions
The technology is designed to help engineers detect potential equipment failures before they escalate, identify production bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions to improve throughput, product yields and overall performance
Honeywell said the platform would focus on improving refining margins, reducing unplanned downtime and making specialised engineering expertise more accessible to plant personnel
By embedding technical knowledge in artificial intelligence-powered tools, the system is expected to help Nigerian engineers and operators solve complex problems more efficiently while strengthening their industrial skills
The initiative aligns with Dangote Refinery’s objective of building a workforce comprising more than 70 per cent Nigerians, reducing dependence on external expertise while expanding local technical capacity
President of Honeywell Technologies UOP, Rajesh Gattupalli, described the collaboration as an example of how artificial intelligence could transform large-scale industrial operations
“Industrial plants are among the most complex operating environments in the world, with enormous potential to realise greater performance and value using digital technologies and connected solutions,” he said
Gattupalli said the deployment would demonstrate how AI could drive higher productivity, reliability and profitability across industrial facilities
The project marks another stage in the refinery’s development, shifting attention from construction and commissioning towards advanced digital systems designed to maximise productivity, strengthen competitiveness and support future expansion