Dangote Refinery To Hit 650,000 BPD Full Capacity In A Month

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the largest in Africa, is on track to achieve its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) within the next 30 days.

Edwin Devakumar, the refinery’s Vice President, shared this update in an interview with Reuters on Monday. He highlighted the refinery’s progress since it began operations, marking a significant milestone for Nigeria’s energy sector.

“The refinery is currently running at 85 percent capacity, and we can reach 100 percent in 30 days,” Devakumar said.

Once fully operational, the refinery aims to compete with European refiners, positioning itself as a major player in the global market.

Despite its ambitious goals, the refinery has faced challenges in securing sufficient crude oil supplies locally. Last year, it resorted to importing crude despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in naira.

To address this, the refinery has requested 550,000 bpd from Nigerian oil producers for the first half of this year, as confirmed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. The NNPC has also warned that it will block export permits for producers failing to meet their domestic supply obligations.

The Dangote Refinery is actively expanding its market presence. Devakumar shared that the refinery recently shipped two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco, showcasing its growing influence in the global energy market.

“We are looking at all the markets right now,” he stated, emphasising the refinery’s strategic focus on diversifying its customer base and strengthening its position as a key supplier of refined petroleum products.