KEY POINTS
- Dangote Refinery full capacity hits 650,000 bpd.
- Dangote Refinery full capacity cuts fuel import reliance.
- The refinery underpins expansion plans.
Femi Otedola, a billionaire investor, praised Aliko Dangote when the Dangote Refinery attained its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. He called the achievement a “structural shift” for Nigeria’s energy and economic prospects.
Otedola said on social media that the Dangote Refinery’s full capacity achievement is more than just a milestone for operations. He claimed that continued domestic refining might change the way fuel is supplied after decades of relying on imports.
The Lagos-based facility achieved the target following optimisation of its crude distillation unit and petrol production block, with Managing Director David Bird confirming that core processing components are now operating steadily at maximum output.
Dangote Refinery full capacity boosts supply
Key units including the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit and reformer are now running at designed levels, enabling production of up to 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit daily, according to company officials.
Industry analysts say operating at Dangote Refinery full capacity strengthens domestic fuel availability and reduces pressure on imports, which have historically weighed on foreign exchange reserves.
Otedola highlighted the potential macroeconomic impact, saying lower import bills could help stabilise the naira and support investor confidence. Sustained local production, he added, would allow more predictable economic planning.
The refinery, valued at about $20 billion, began operations in 2023 and has gradually ramped up throughput despite early challenges, including crude supply constraints.
Refinery capacity signals expansion drive
Otedola also pointed to Dangote’s plan to invest an additional $12 billion to expand output from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day, a move that would rank the complex among the world’s largest refining hubs.
The expansion includes production of polypropylene and Linear Alkyl Benzene, key inputs for plastics and detergent manufacturing, broadening the facility’s petrochemical footprint. Otedola said the diversification strategy underscores a long-term industrial vision aimed at deepening Nigeria’s manufacturing base and reducing reliance on imported inputs.
According to Billionaires Africa, Market observers say endorsements from leading business figures reinforce confidence in the refinery’s role in advancing energy security and supporting broader economic resilience.
