Dangote Refinery plans 65 million liters daily petrol supply 

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals plans to supply between 60 million and 65 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit, or petrol, each day to the domestic market, a volume that would cover Nigeria’s average consumption and leave room for exports. 

The company will export an estimated 15 million to 20 million liters of surplus daily, according to Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group. 

“We have agreed an off-take framework to supply up to 65 million liters daily for the domestic market. Any surplus will be exported,” Dangote said in Lagos. 

Nigeria’s daily petrol use is estimated at 50 million to 60 million liters. If sustained, the refinery’s output would exceed local demand, reducing the country’s long-standing reliance on imported fuel and helping to steady supplies.

NNPC, major marketers back refinery shift

Under a distribution structure endorsed by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, fuel from the refinery will be sold through major marketers.

They include MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Retail, 11 Plc, TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Ardova Plc and others. 

The company said the structured off-take model is intended to curb hoarding and price distortions that have contributed to periodic shortages. 

Industry analysts say the shift could reshape Nigeria’s fuel supply chain. For decades, Africa’s largest crude producer has depended on imported refined products, exposing the economy to foreign exchange swings and supply disruptions. 

With local refining capacity now meeting  and potentially exceeding demand, Nigeria could reduce billions of dollars in annual fuel import costs. Economists say that would help ease pressure on the naira and support foreign reserves.

Capacity exceeds expectations 

During a recent visit, Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, described the refinery as a key national asset. 

“This plant was designed for 650,000 barrels per day. None of us thought it would even touch 550,000. What we saw live today was 661,000. These are live parameters, not reports,” he said. 

Dangote refinery boosts regional supply

The $20 billion refinery, which began operations in 2024 after years of delays, has reached its nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

The facility is expected to play a central role in supplying petrol domestically and serving markets across West and Central Africa. 

Dangote, whose net worth is estimated at about $33 billion, has positioned the refinery as part of a broader industrial push spanning cement, fertilizer and petrochemicals.

The group recently signed a $400 million agreement with China’s XCMG to expand refining and petrochemical output. 

For many Nigerians, the test will be simple: steady supply at stable prices. If the refinery delivers on its targets, it could mark a turning point in a sector long defined by scarcity and imports.