Faith Nyasuguta
Nigeria’s Dangote Oil Refinery, the largest in Africa, is expected to achieve full operational capacity within the next 30 days, according to its chief executive.
The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, established by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has been ramping up production since it started operations. It began refining diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January last year, followed by petrol production in September.
Speaking on Monday, Dangote Refinery’s head, Edwin Devakumar, confirmed that the facility is currently running at 85% capacity and is on track to reach 100% within the next month.
Once fully operational, the refinery is expected to compete with European suppliers, potentially reshaping the global fuel market. However, securing enough crude oil locally remains a challenge, according to Reuters.
Impact on Global and Local Markets
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has highlighted that the refinery’s growing output is already disrupting European oil exports. Experts suggest that Dangote’s operations could bring an end to the $17 billion annual gasoline trade between Europe and Africa.
Despite its ambitious goals, the refinery has encountered difficulties sourcing crude oil locally. Last year, it had to import crude despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in naira.
For the first half of 2025, Dangote Refinery has requested 550,000 barrels per day from Nigerian oil producers. In response, Nigeria’s oil regulator has issued a warning, stating that export permits will be denied to oil producers who fail to meet their supply obligations to local refineries.
Expanding Global Influence
The Dangote Oil Refinery is also expanding its reach beyond Nigeria. Last week, Dangote announced that the refinery had successfully sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco, marking a significant step toward global expansion.
“We are already reaching the ambitious goals we set for ourselves, and we are pleased to announce that we have just sold two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco,” Dangote stated.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, Nigerian-made aviation fuel from the refinery is gaining international recognition. The product has been recommended for use at major airports, including Heathrow in the UK.
Dangote’s refinery is now the primary supplier of jet fuel to Nigerian airlines, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Nigeria’s total supply and nearly half of West Africa’s aviation fuel consumption.
As a result, Nigeria’s jet fuel imports have dropped significantly, from 13,000 barrels per day in 2023 to just 5,000 barrels per day in 2024.
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