• Dangote refinery reaches full 650,000 bpd capacity
• First single-train refinery to hit nameplate output
• Output could cut imports, save $10 billion annually

Nigeria's Dangote refinery reached its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the facility said in a statement dated Wednesday, Feb. 11. The refinery said it was the first in the world to achieve such production levels on a single train.

The performance resulted from optimization of the crude distillation unit and the gasoline production block, consolidating operational stability at Africa's largest refining facility.

The group conducted intensive 72-hour performance tests with its technology partner UOP to verify operational efficiency and ensure all parameters met global standards. According to David Bird, the refinery's general manager, the seamless integration and performance of the production units demonstrated the facility's resilience and advanced engineering.

"Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision and expertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to see them functioning at optimal efficiency. This milestone underscores the strength, reliability, and engineering quality that define our operations. We remain committed to producing high-quality refined products that will transform Nigeria’s energy landscape, eliminate import dependence, and position the nation as a net exporter of petroleum products," the official said.

The distillation and gasoline production units, along with the naphtha treatment unit, isomerization unit and reformer, now operate at 100% of their nameplate capacity. Other treatment units at the refinery will begin their performance tests as part of Phase 2 next week.

Optimized Production Set to Transform Market and Economy

The refinery supplied between 45 and 50 million liters of gasoline per day during the recent holiday period. With distillation and gasoline production activities fully operational, it can now deliver up to 75 million liters per day to the domestic market, according to estimates.

Analysts view the 650,000 barrel-per-day project as transformative for Nigeria, capable of generating up to $10 billion in annual foreign exchange savings, creating thousands of jobs, strengthening the naira and improving regional energy security. The reduction in imports, which exceeded 80% of refined products, should stabilize fuel supplies, limit price volatility and end recurring shortages while boosting downstream industries, particularly petrochemicals and fertilizers.

Last October, Aliko Dangote, the plant's owner, announced plans to expand capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day. The expansion will support new petrochemical investments, including production of linear alkylbenzenes and base oils, and will increase annual polypropylene output from 1 to 1.5 million metric tons.

Operating at full capacity, the Dangote refinery paves the way for more stable domestic fuel supplies while supporting Nigeria's sustainable industrial and energy development. It also strengthens the country's position in regional and international markets, offering new opportunities for refined product exports and economic growth.

Olivier de Souza