The Lagos-based mega petrochemical plant, Dangote Refinery, is expected to reach full operation of 650,000 barrels per day within the next 30 days, approximately one month from now.
In a statement on Monday, Edwin Devakumar, Vice President of Dangote Group, said the refinery, currently operating at 85% capacity, is projected to reach 100% within a month.
Devakumar also added that the refinery is exploring other markets, just a week after exporting its products to Saudi Aramco in the United Arab Emirates.
Since commencing operations in 2024, the refinery has been supplying Nigeria with refined products, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel (JET A1), while also exporting petrochemical products globally, making Nigeria a net exporter of these products.
Last year, the $20 billion mega project resorted to importing crude after struggling to secure adequate supply domestically, despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in naira.
Meanwhile, the refinery has requested 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from Nigerian oil producers for the period of January to June 2025. The Nigerian oil regulator has warned that export permits will be blocked for oil producers who fail to meet their supply obligations to local refineries.
The 650,000 bpd refinery, built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote in Lagos, began processing crude in January last year, initially producing diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel. It commenced gasoline production in September.
Despite its potential to compete with European refiners when running at full capacity, the refinery has faced challenges in securing sufficient local crude supplies.
As it scales up production, the Dangote Oil Refinery is exploring new markets for its refined products. Founder Aliko Dangote, speaking to a group of Nigerian experts who visited last week, confirmed that the company had shipped two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco as part of its expansion strategy.
“We are looking at all the markets right now,” Devakumar said on Monday.
With production capacity of 650,000 bpd, the refinery is positioning itself as a key player in the global energy market.
