Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) following a successful performance test conducted by its Process Licensors, marking a major milestone in its operational expansion.
The development, announced in a statement on Thursday, June 3, pushes the facility beyond its official nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd, reinforcing its position as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery and highlighting its engineering strength and production efficiency.
Vice-President for Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the achievement forms part of a broader expansion plan aimed at more than doubling capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months.
According to him, the long-term strategy is designed to significantly enhance Nigeria’s energy independence while positioning the refinery as a major global refining hub.
He explained that the expansion would reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported refined products, boost self-sufficiency, and strengthen the country’s role as a regional energy exporter.
“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 pointing out that the Refinery’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate move toward continental and global refining dominance, not just domestic supply sufficiency,” he said.
Owned by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, the refinery began fuel production in 2024 and has steadily expanded output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and other petroleum products.
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It has since emerged as a key supplier to both domestic and international markets, exporting refined products to countries across Africa and to destinations in Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. The refinery has also supplied gasoline to the United States and jet fuel to Saudi Arabia.
The facility has played an increasingly important stabilising role in global fuel supply chains, particularly amid disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, prompting greater reliance on Nigerian refined products by several African countries.
In April, Dangote Petroleum Refinery was named the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel by S&P Global Commodities, further cementing its rising influence in global energy markets.
The refinery has also contributed to stabilising Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply, reducing dependence on imports and easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
Its expansion aligns with national efforts to strengthen local refining capacity and maximise value from Nigeria’s crude oil resources.
Looking ahead, Aliko Dangote has set a long-term target of making the facility the world’s largest refinery by 2028, with a projected capacity of 1.4 million bpd.
The expansion is expected to generate significant economic benefits, including job creation, industrial growth, and improved trade balances.
It is also expected to support downstream industries by ensuring steady supply of LPG, polypropylene, and other industrial feedstocks used in manufacturing and consumer goods production, with future plans including the production of Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) for detergents.