The Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has confirmed that the initial public offering (IPO) of the Dangote Refinery will open within the next 10 to 12 days. Dangote made the disclosure on Thursday, September 3, 2026, while addressing investors and analysts in Botswana, providing the clearest timeline yet for the highly anticipated share sale.
The proposed IPO is expected to raise about $5 billion, potentially making it the largest initial public offering ever seen on the African continent. The share sale will allow investors to take a stake in one of Africa's most strategically important energy assets.
Dangote Refinery IPO Set to Attract Investors
Dangote said proceeds from the IPO would support his ambition to dramatically expand the refinery's capacity. "Our dream is that we want to make sure we double the capacity," Dangote said, outlining plans that could eventually take the refinery's processing capacity to about 1.4 million barrels per day.
The refinery currently has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It reached that level in February and has subsequently tested production of up to 700,000 barrels per day, according to Reuters. The scale of the planned transaction is expected to draw significant attention from domestic and international investors, particularly because the refinery generates revenues from an industry heavily linked to global oil and petroleum-product prices.
Investors Watch for Dollar-Linked Returns
However, investors should distinguish between a dollar-linked business and a guarantee that shareholders will receive returns in U.S. dollars. Details such as the offer price, share structure, dividend policy and currency arrangements will be crucial in determining the potential returns available to investors.
The refinery has also benefited from stronger refining conditions, with disruption in the Middle East increasing demand for alternative fuel supplies. Dangote's plan to double the refinery's capacity would significantly increase its importance in Nigeria's petroleum market and potentially strengthen its position as a major fuel supplier across Africa, according to a Reuters report.
Capacity Expansion Could Transform Refinery
But analysts are also watching the refinery's crude supply costs closely. Reuters previously reported that around 30% to 40% of its crude intake comes from imports, highlighting the challenges surrounding access to competitively priced domestic crude. These factors could influence profitability and, ultimately, how investors value the company when the IPO launches.
Beyond the refinery IPO, Dangote disclosed that a secondary listing of Dangote Cement on the London Stock Exchange is likely to take place in October. The move could broaden the cement company's access to international investors and global capital markets.
Dangote Cement London Listing Also Looms
Dangote is also expanding his refining ambitions beyond Nigeria. He said a new refinery project on Kenya's coast, developed in partnership with East African governments, is scheduled to launch on September 30. The project is expected to take up to three years and would supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring countries.
With the Dangote Refinery IPO now just days away, investors are preparing for what could become a defining moment for Nigeria's capital market and Africa's energy industry. Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerians could soon have an opportunity to own a stake in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as the facility prepares for a planned IPO that could become one of Africa's largest. The refinery has submitted an application for a potential $5 billion IPO to Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters. However, the final size of the offering has not been determined.
