Honeywell Technologies has announced the launch of Forge Plant Cognition, an industrial artificial intelligence platform developed using Nvidia's AI capabilities and Dell Technologies' infrastructure, with its first deployment at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Nigeria.
The platform is designed to improve refinery operations by identifying production bottlenecks, monitoring equipment performance and helping operators make decisions using real-time data.
According to Honeywell, preliminary estimates suggest that the technology could generate more than $60 million in annual gross operational benefits when the refinery operates at full capacity. The company estimates potential improvements exceeding 29 cents per barrel.
However, Honeywell clarified that these projections are not guaranteed and exclude implementation costs. Actual benefits will depend on operating conditions, production levels and other factors.
Forge Plant Cognition combines industrial automation, engineering expertise and AI-powered analysis to help operators identify inefficiencies and respond to operational challenges.
The system uses operating data alongside physics-based models to assess refinery processes, identify potential equipment issues and recommend corrective measures.
It also aims to reduce unplanned downtime and improve production efficiency by providing engineers with information about emerging operational risks.
The platform incorporates Nvidia's Nemotron models to support AI agents that interpret operational data. Nvidia Omniverse libraries enable digital representations of industrial facilities for simulation and planning, while Nvidia Cosmos and Metropolis technologies support visual monitoring and anomaly detection.
Dell AI Factory provides the computing infrastructure supporting these capabilities.
Rajesh Gattupalli, President of Honeywell Technologies UOP, said the collaboration with Dangote demonstrates how AI can be applied to improve productivity, reliability and profitability across complex industrial operations.
David Bird, CEO and Managing Director of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, said the investment is intended to improve operational performance while supporting the development of local technical expertise.
The deployment will also support Dangote's workforce development plans by providing engineers and operators with access to specialised process knowledge through AI-powered tools.
Dangote is working towards a workforce comprising 70% Nigerian employees, with the technology expected to support training and operational decision-making.
The project builds on an existing relationship between Honeywell and Dangote. Honeywell is separately supporting plans to expand the refinery's processing capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day within three years.
The capacity expansion is distinct from the AI deployment, and the projected operational benefits should not be interpreted as confirmed financial gains.
Honeywell said Forge Plant Cognition is also intended for use across petrochemical facilities and liquefied natural gas operations.
The announcement adds to the growing application of AI in industrial environments, where companies are examining how data analysis, digital simulations and automation can support equipment reliability and production planning.
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