Dangote Refinery Raises Petrol Supply as Processing Capacity Reaches 700,000 Barrels Per Day
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has stepped up local supplies of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, as the facility’s crude processing capacity rose to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to findings by Channels Television.
Checks by our correspondent showed that supplies to the refinery’s partner outlets, including MRS stations, increased between Friday and Saturday, 6 June 2026.
An unusually high number of petrol tankers were seen taking turns to deliver products to MRS stations in Lagos, causing traffic congestion along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday morning.
It was also gathered that MRS stations were selling petrol at ₦1,282 per litre, compared with prices ranging between ₦1,295 and ₦1,380 per litre at other filling stations.
Last Saturday, the refinery announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of petrol to ₦1,250 per litre from ₦1,275 per litre, while the price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, was cut to ₦1,700 per litre from ₦1,800 per litre.
In a statement issued on Friday, the company said it had increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 bpd following a performance test conducted by the process licensors, marking a major milestone in its operational expansion and reinforcing its status as the world’s largest single-train refinery.
The increase means the refinery has surpassed its nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd.
According to the company, the achievement demonstrates the facility’s ability to process additional feedstock while optimising performance across its production units.
Vice-President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the latest ramp-up forms part of a broader strategy to more than double capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months, positioning the facility to become the world’s largest refinery.
According to Edwin, the expansion is expected to enhance Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency, eliminate dependence on imported refined products, and strengthen the country’s position as a regional export hub.
He added that the refinery’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate strategy aimed at achieving continental and global refining leadership, rather than merely satisfying domestic demand.
Owned by industrialist and philanthropist Aliko Dangote, the refinery commenced fuel production in 2024 and has steadily expanded output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and other refined petroleum products.
The facility has rapidly emerged as a major supplier to both domestic and international markets, exporting refined products to several African countries and key European destinations, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
It has also supplied petrol to the United States and jet fuel to Saudi Arabia.
“Dangote Refinery has strengthened its role as a stabiliser in the oil and gas industry, given the ongoing disruptions caused by tensions in the Middle East, as a result of which many African countries are now patronising the refinery for energy security,” the statement said.
In a further demonstration of its growing global relevance, Dangote Petroleum Refinery became the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April, according to S&P Global Commodities.
The refinery has played a key role in stabilising fuel supplies in Nigeria, helping to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and easing pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
Its expansion also aligns with broader national objectives aimed at increasing local refining capacity and maximising value from Nigeria’s crude oil resources.
The company noted that rising production volumes had attracted greater interest from international crude suppliers and commodity trading firms, with feedstock now sourced from both domestic and foreign producers.
Looking ahead, Aliko Dangote outlined plans to transform the facility into the world’s largest refinery by 2028, with a target processing capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day.
According to the company, the expansion is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity, and improved trade balances.
The refinery is also expected to support downstream manufacturing through the supply of liquefied petroleum gas and other industrial feedstocks, including polypropylene, widely used in packaging materials and consumer goods production. It also plans to supply Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a key raw material used in detergent manufacturing.
