Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), surpassing its installed nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd following a successful performance test conducted by process licensors.
The milestone reinforces the refinery’s status as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery and marks a significant step in its operational expansion strategy.
Speaking on the development, Vice President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the achievement reflects the refinery’s strong engineering design and operational efficiency, enabling it to process higher volumes of crude oil while maintaining optimal performance across its production units.
Edwin disclosed that the company is pursuing an ambitious plan to more than double the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months.
According to him, the expansion is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, eliminate dependence on imported refined petroleum products and position the country as a major regional export hub.
He noted that the refinery’s growth strategy is aimed not only at meeting domestic demand but also at establishing a dominant presence in regional and global refining markets.
Owned by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, the refinery began fuel production in 2024 and has steadily increased output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products.
The facility has emerged as a key supplier to both local and international markets, exporting refined products to several African countries as well as major 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, underscoring its growing footprint in global energy markets.
Industry observers say the refinery has become an important stabilising force in the oil and gas sector, particularly amid supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The development has prompted increased patronage from African countries seeking reliable energy supplies.
Further highlighting its growing global significance, Dangote Petroleum Refinery was reported by S&P Global Commodities as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April.
The refinery has played a major role in improving fuel availability in Nigeria, reducing reliance on imported petroleum products and helping to conserve foreign exchange. Its expansion aligns with national efforts to boost local refining capacity and maximise value from Nigeria’s crude oil resources.
The increase in production has also attracted growing interest from international crude suppliers and commodity trading firms, with the refinery sourcing feedstock from both domestic and foreign producers to support rising output levels.
Looking ahead, Dangote has reiterated plans to transform the facility into the world’s largest refinery by 2028 through the proposed expansion to 1.4 million bpd. The project is expected to generate significant economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity and improved trade balances.
Beyond fuels, the refinery is expected to support downstream manufacturing through the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), polypropylene and other industrial feedstocks used in the production of packaging materials and consumer goods. The company also plans to produce Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a key raw material used in detergent manufacturing.
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