Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced an increase in its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), exceeding its installed nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd. This milestone follows a performance assessment conducted by its process licensors.
The development marks a significant operational achievement for the refinery, widely recognized as the world's largest single-train petroleum refining facility. In a statement issued on Thursday by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, the company explained that the increase demonstrates the refinery's ability to process additional feedstock while optimizing performance across its production units.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, noted that the refinery's latest output increase is part of a broader expansion strategy aimed at scaling capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months. He stated that the proposed expansion could position the facility among the largest refining complexes globally, while strengthening Nigeria's drive for energy self-sufficiency. "The refinery's growth trajectory reflects a deliberate move toward continental and global refining dominance, not just domestic supply sufficiency," Edwin said.
The announcement comes days after the refinery's chief executive disclosed that the production target of 700,000 bpd would be reached by 2028. On Tuesday, refinery CEO David Bird, speaking at the S&P Global Energy Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference in London, said the refinery is currently operating at full nameplate capacity and planning a "ruthless replication" strategy to expand output. "We will bring 700,000 barrels per day of fully complex refining capacity on stream by the end of 2028," Bird said, adding that long-lead equipment has already been procured and construction contracts are being awarded. He added that the group could eventually increase refining capacity to 2.1 million bpd, supported by plans for another refinery in East Africa, positioning the company as a major player in global crude and refined product markets. "Nigeria has gone from fuel scarcity to absolute fuel abundance since the Dangote refinery came online," Bird said.
According to Kpler data cited last month, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported an estimated 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026. The data showed exports rose from about 20,000 bpd in April 2024 to around 65,000 bpd by the end of that year, before peaking at approximately 160,000 bpd during the review period. These figures highlight the growing role of refined petroleum exports in Nigeria's energy sector, particularly aviation fuel, as the country seeks to strengthen domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported products.
Expansion Plans and Export Ambitions
Owned by industrialist Aliko Dangote, the refinery commenced fuel production in 2024 and has since expanded output to include petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and other refined petroleum products. The company said the facility now 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. It also noted that refined products have reached markets in the United States, while jet fuel exports have extended to Saudi Arabia.
Dangote Industries argued that the refinery has played a stabilizing role in regional fuel markets amid supply disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with more African countries turning to the facility for energy security.
Growing Global Footprint
The refinery's rising output has further strengthened its position in global fuel markets. The company noted that the facility emerged as the world's largest exporter of jet fuel in April, citing data from S&P Global Commodities. Industry analysts say the refinery's operations have contributed to reducing Nigeria's reliance on imported petroleum products, easing pressure on foreign exchange demand, and improving local fuel availability.
As production volumes increase, the refinery has attracted stronger engagement from international crude suppliers and commodity traders, sourcing feedstock from both domestic and foreign producers to sustain rising throughput. Dangote Industries said the planned expansion to 1.4 million bpd by 2028 is expected to generate broader economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity, and improved trade balances.
The refinery also expects to deepen downstream industrialization through increased supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), polypropylene, and other industrial feedstocks used in manufacturing. Plans also include production of Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a key raw material used in detergent manufacturing, as part of efforts to expand the country's petrochemical value chain.
