Dangote Refinery attains full capacity, targets 75 million liters daily

Months after signing new agreements to expand capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reached its nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, a milestone that positions the $20 billion refinery at the center of Nigeria’s fuel supply strategy.

The Lagos-based refinery, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said the achievement followed the restoration and optimization of its Crude Distillation Unit and Motor Spirit production block. According to the company, the plant has now completed a scheduled maintenance exercise that allowed both units to return to steady-state operations at full output.

Management described the development as unprecedented for a single-train refinery of its scale. A 72-hour performance test run, conducted with its technology licensor UOP, is set to validate operational stability, efficiency, and compliance with international standards under real operating conditions.

Dangote Refinery validates integrated units

David Bird, managing director and CEO of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, said the integration of the CDU and MS Block reflects the depth of engineering work carried out on site. “Our teams have demonstrated precision and expertise in stabilizing both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to see them functioning at optimal efficiency,” Bird said.

“This performance testing phase enables us to validate the entire plant under real operating conditions. We are confident that the refinery remains on track to deliver consistent, world-class output.” Bird added that the refinery is focused on supplying high-quality refined products to the domestic market, with the goal of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel and strengthening its position as a petroleum exporter.

The CDU, which serves as the primary processing unit, separates crude oil into various fractions. The MS Block—comprising a naphtha hydrotreater, isomerization unit, and reformer—upgrades intermediate streams into high-octane petrol blend components.

Refinery targets 75 million liters daily

Bird said all three components are now operating steadily at the full 650,000 barrels per day capacity, stabilizing petrol production. Other processing units across the refinery are expected to begin their own performance tests under Phase 2 next week, marking what the company described as the final stage of technical validation for the integrated complex.

Beyond operations, the refinery pointed to its growing role in domestic supply. During the recent festive period, it supplied between 45 million and 50 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit daily to the Nigerian market. With the CDU and MS Block fully restored, the plant said it can deliver up to 75 million liters of petrol per day as required, a volume that could ease pressure on imports and foreign exchange.

Boosting Nigeria’s energy security capacity

The latest update comes months after the Dangote Group advanced plans to expand refining capacity. The group signed new agreements in India, including a deal with Honeywell, covering licensing and engineering work for a proposed 750,000-barrel-per-day greenfield facility adjacent to the existing 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery. Combined, the projects would lift total capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day.

The push comes at a time of heightened national focus on energy security and efforts to conserve foreign exchange. Despite being one of Africa’s largest crude producers, Nigeria has long relied on imported refined products. Dangote Group said it remains committed to supporting energy security, development and job creation as the refinery moves into its next phase of operations.