The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reached its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), a milestone the company says sets a global benchmark for single-train refining operations.
In a statement issued on February 11, the refinery said the achievement followed the successful optimisation of its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) production block, strengthening steady-state operations at Africa’s largest oil refining facility.
Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, David Bird, said the performance reflects the plant’s engineering strength and operational resilience.
“Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision and expertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to see them functioning at optimal efficiency. This performance testing phase enables us to validate the entire plant under real operating conditions. We are confident that the refinery remains firmly on track to deliver consistent, world-class output.”
He added that the milestone underscores the facility’s reliability and long-term impact.
“This milestone underscores the strength, reliability, and engineering quality that define our operations. We remain committed to producing high-quality refined products that will transform Nigeria’s energy landscape, eliminate import dependence, and position the nation as a net exporter of petroleum products.”
The refinery disclosed that it has begun a 72-hour performance test run in collaboration with technology licensor UOP to confirm that all operational parameters meet global standards. Remaining processing units are expected to undergo performance testing in a second phase.
During the recent festive period, the facility supplied between 45 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily and said it now has the capacity to deliver up to 75 million litres per day to the domestic market.
Analysts say full operation of the refinery could significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products, save up to $10 billion annually in foreign exchange, stabilise fuel supply, create jobs and strengthen the naira.
Located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, the refinery occupies about 6,180 acres and is widely regarded as a transformative project for Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
Plans are also underway to expand the facility’s capacity to 1.4 million bpd, a move that would make it the largest refinery in the world once completed.
