Nigeria: Dangote Refinery boosts crude processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), exceeding its official design capacity of 650,000 bpd in a significant milestone for the facility.
The achievement was confirmed during a performance test carried out by the refinery’s technical partners, further cementing its status as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery.
According to the refinery’s management, the increase reflects the strength of its engineering design and operational efficiency.
Speaking on the development, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, revealed that plans are already underway to double the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months.
He said the expansion is aimed at positioning the refinery among the largest refining facilities globally while strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and reducing dependence on imported petroleum products.
Edwin noted that the refinery’s ambition goes beyond satisfying local demand. The long-term goal is to transform the facility into a major refining hub serving Africa and international markets.
Since commencing fuel production in 2024, the refinery has steadily ramped up output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products. It currently supplies both domestic and international markets, exporting refined products to several African countries and European destinations including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.
The refinery has also supplied gasoline to the United States and jet fuel to Saudi Arabia, highlighting its growing footprint in the global energy market.
Management says the facility has become a key player in stabilising fuel supply, particularly during periods of global market uncertainty and supply disruptions. Several African nations now rely on the refinery to support their energy needs.
The refinery’s growing influence was further highlighted in April when it was recognised as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel.
Beyond fuel production, the project has contributed to improving fuel availability in Nigeria, reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves and supporting efforts to increase local refining capacity.
The planned expansion is expected to create more jobs, stimulate industrial growth and improve Nigeria’s trade balance. It will also support downstream industries through the supply of products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), polypropylene and other industrial feedstocks used in manufacturing.
Future plans include the production of Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a key ingredient used in detergent manufacturing, as the refinery continues to expand its role in Nigeria’s industrial development.
