Dangote Refinery increases capacity to 700,000 barrels per day

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals says it has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), surpassing its nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd.

The milestone was reportedly achieved during a performance test conducted by the firm’s process licensors, underscoring the refinery’s operational efficiency.

“The achievement demonstrates the refinery’s ability to process additional feedstock while optimizing performance across its production units,” Dangote refinery said.

Devakumar Edwin, the vice-president of oil and gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), said the increase forms part of a broader strategy to expand the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million bpd within 30 months, positioning the facility as potentially the largest refinery globally.

Edwin said 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.

He added that the refinery’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate move toward continental and global refining dominance, not just domestic supply sufficiency.

On February 4, David Bird, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote refinery, said the facility has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd and will soon ramp up production to 700,000 bpd.

Advertisement
Bird said the refinery has more than enough fuel, production, and capacity to meet demand.

He said the refinery can produce more than 75 million litres of petrol per day, adding that the organisation will now focus more on output rather than crude rate.

On October 26, 2025, Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote Group, said the refinery was expanding its production capacity from 650,000 bpd to 1.4 million bpd within three years.

The move is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity and improved trade balances.

More details here...