The Digest:
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced that its plant is now operating at full installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, making it the "first refinery in the world to attain this feat." According to a statement, the milestone follows the completion of scheduled maintenance and full restoration of the crude distillation unit (CDU) and motor spirit (MS) production block. A 72-hour performance test run is underway in collaboration with licensor UOP to validate operational efficiency. The refinery stated it is now positioned to deliver up to 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily to the domestic market, up from 45–50 million litres during the festive period. CEO David Bird said the remaining processing units will begin performance test runs in Phase 2 scheduled for next week.
Key Points:
- Full capacity operation significantly reduces Nigeria's reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
- It strengthens domestic fuel security and positions Nigeria as a potential net exporter of petroleum products.
- The refinery achieves landmark operational status, while the nation moves closer to ending decades of import dependence.
- The global-first claim underscores the scale and technical sophistication of Africa's largest refinery.
- The timing, post-maintenance and ahead of Phase 2 testing, signals operational maturity and production stability.
The refinery's sustained full-capacity operations will be critical to transforming Nigeria's downstream sector and achieving long-term energy self-sufficiency.
Sources: Dangote Refinery Statement, TheCable
