Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), exceeding its installed nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd. The refinery achieved the milestone following a performance review conducted by its process licensors.
The achievement marks a major operational milestone for the facility, which remains the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery.
In a statement shared, Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said the increase reflects the refinery’s ability to process more crude while maintaining efficient operations across its production units.
Speaking on the development, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the latest increase forms part of the company’s plan to expand refining capacity to 1.4 million bpd over the next 30 months.
Edwin noted that the planned expansion could place the refinery among the largest refining complexes in the world while supporting Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its energy security.
He added that the refinery’s growth plans extend beyond meeting domestic demand and aim to establish a stronger presence in regional and global refining markets.
The announcement comes shortly after refinery executives disclosed plans to reach a refining capacity of 1.4 million bpd by 2028.
Speaking at the S&P Global Energy Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference in London on Tuesday, refinery Chief Executive Officer David Bird said the facility is currently operating at its full nameplate capacity and is pursuing a replication strategy to further increase output.
Bird said the company plans to add another 700,000 barrels per day of refining capacity by the end of 2028. He noted that the company has already secured long-lead equipment and started awarding construction contracts for the expansion.
He also revealed that the group could eventually increase its refining capacity to 2.1 million bpd through plans that include the development of another refinery in East Africa, strengthening its position in global crude and refined products markets.
According to Bird, the start-up of the Dangote refinery has helped transform Nigeria’s fuel market from recurring shortages to a more stable supply environment.
Data from Kpler shows that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026.
The data indicates that jet fuel exports increased from roughly 20,000 barrels per day in April 2024 to about 65,000 barrels per day by the end of the year before reaching a peak of around 160,000 barrels per day during the period under review.
The figures underscore the growing contribution of refined petroleum exports, particularly aviation fuel, to Nigeria’s energy sector as the country continues to expand local refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported fuel products.
source: www.premiumtimesng.com
African Energy Council