Image credit: Business day
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has ramped up production to 85% of its 650,000 barrels per day capacity, aiming to reach full production within the next 30 days. The refinery is currently processing 552,500 barrels daily.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industries, confirmed that the facility is on track to achieve 100% capacity within the next month, signaling strong intentions to stop fuel imports into Nigeria and Africa. The refinery, built by Aliko Dangote in Lagos, began processing crude into products such as diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January 2024 and began producing petrol in September despite ongoing crude supply challenges.
Although officials remain tight-lipped about the specific source of crude oil for the refinery, as local supply has been limited, the facility has previously imported crude to ensure production. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has set a requirement for the refinery to source up to 550,000 barrels per day of crude from Nigerian oil producers from January to June 2025, with consequences for producers failing to meet local supply obligations.
In addition to meeting local demand, Dangote Refinery is expanding its market reach. The company recently sent jet fuel cargoes to Saudi Aramco and is exploring other international markets for its refined products.
A senior refinery official confirmed that the planned increase in production will lead to a significant rise in refined product output, though it remains unclear whether this will result in lower fuel prices in the market. Questions also remain about the long-term strategy for securing crude oil supplies, as Dangote Refinery’s procurement plans have not been disclosed.
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