• Aliko reiterates plan to transform plant into world’s largest refinery by 2028
•Edwin: It reflects deliberate move towards continental, global refining dominance
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja, Peter Uzoho and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has successfully increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) in a performance test conducted by the Process Licensors.
The development marked a significant milestone in the facility’s operational expansion and has further cemented its position as the world’s largest single train petroleum refinery.
The increase has now seen the refinery surpass its nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd, underlining the facility’s engineering capability and operational efficiency. The achievement, the firm said, demonstrates the refinery’s ability to process additional feedstock while optimising performance across its production units.
Vice President for oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Devakumar Edwin, explained that the ramp-up is part of a broader, ambitious strategy to more than double capacity to 1.4 million bpd within 30 months, positioning the facility as potentially the largest refinery globally.
According to him, the expansion is expected to boost Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency, eliminate the country’s dependence on imported refined products and strengthen its position as a regional export hub.
Edwin pointed out that the refinery’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate move toward continental and global refining dominance, not just domestic supply sufficiency.
Owned by Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, the refinery commenced fuel production in 2024 and has steadily increased output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other refined petroleum products.
The facility has rapidly established itself as a major supplier to both domestic and international markets, exporting refined petroleum products to several African countries and key European destinations, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, among others. It has supplied petrol to the American market and jet fuel to Saudi Arabia, among others.
Besides, the Dangote Refinery has strengthened its role as a stabiliser in the oil and gas industry given the ongoing disruptions caused by the Middle-East tension as a result of which many African countries are now patronising the facility for energy security.
In a further demonstration of its growing global significance, Dangote Petroleum Refinery became the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April, according to S&P Global Commodities.
In the same vein, the refinery has played a pivotal role in stabilising fuel supplies in Nigeria, helping to eliminate dependence on imported petroleum products and easing pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Its expansion also aligns with broader national objectives to enhance local refining capacity and maximize value from Nigeria’s abundant crude oil resources.
Growing production volumes have also attracted increased interest from global crude suppliers and commodity trading firms, with the refinery sourcing feedstock from both domestic and international producers to sustain its rising output.
Looking ahead, Aliko Dangote has outlined ambitious plans to transform the facility into the world’s largest refinery by 2028, targeting a processing capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day.
Such expansion is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity and improved trade balances.
The refinery is also expected to strengthen downstream manufacturing by ensuring a reliable supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other key industrial feedstocks, including polypropylene which are widely used in the production of packaging materials and other consumer goods.
Similarly, the refinery has said that it has future plans for the supply of Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) which is used in the production of detergents.