In boosting it’s refining capacity, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has assured Nigerians of a sustained end to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) scarcity, declaring that the country has entered a new phase of fuel abundance driven by domestic refining, stable pricing and large-scale supply.
It stressed that Nigeria’s transition from chronic fuel scarcity to continuous production, is a pivotal shift the company frames not just as a supply milestone, but as a leap toward cleaner fuels, economic stability, and energy sovereignty
The assurance was given on Wednesday in Lagos by the newly -appointed Managing-Director of the refinery, Mr David Bird, who said the facility is consistently supplying more than 50 million litres of finished fuel daily, with output at times exceeding 52 million litres.
According to him, production levels are now being matched by off-take, positioning the refinery to meet domestic demand while exporting excess volumes when necessary.
Bird said the stable availability of locally refined petrol is contributing significantly to Nigeria’s broader economic stability, including support for the naira, as reliance on fuel imports, which exposes the economy to global price volatility, continues to decline.
He noted that between 30 and 40 per cent of the refinery’s crude supply is currently sourced under the crude-for-naira programme, which he described as critical to exchange rate stability and long-term economic planning.
Beyond volume, Bird emphasised that Nigeria is now consuming world-class fuels produced to Euro 5 standards, marking a major improvement in product quality and public health outcomes.
He said the refinery exports gasoline to Europe and jet fuel to international markets such as Dubai, underscoring the global competitiveness of its output.
He criticised the historical dumping of substandard fuel products in West Africa, noting that Dangote Refinery’s low-sulphur, cleaner fuels represent a structural shift for the region.
According to him, the transition from imports to high-quality local production is not only improving air quality but also strengthening Nigeria’s energy security.
Addressing concerns from some industry players over the current retail petrol price of N739 per litre, Bird dismissed claims that the pricing was anti-competitive.
He maintained that the price reflects market realities and offers consumers choice, while also calling for a regulatory framework that better supports a competitive, liberalised downstream market.
On distribution, Bird disclosed that about 4,000 trucks are currently positioned at the refinery, with free trucking forming part of the company’s logistics strategy.
He said the final step before full nationwide rollout is the deployment of a computerised security and monitoring system to ensure accurate delivery volumes and eliminate losses across the supply chain.
The MD said the refinery’s strong performance during the recent Christmas and New Year holidays, when it supplied fuel seamlessly across the market, demonstrated its growing capacity and operational resilience.
He described the achievement as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards fuel self-sufficiency.
Looking ahead, Bird outlined plans to expand refining and petrochemical capacity, including increasing polypropylene production from the current 800,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes through an additional propane dehydrogenation (PDH) unit, with a longer-term target of 2.4 million tonnes.
He said the expansion would support domestic manufacturing, deepen import substitution and catalyse the development of a large industrial ecosystem.
He added that the refinery is currently in a stabilisation phase following the ramp-up of several units in the second half of 2025, noting that its ability to maintain daily supplies above 50 million litres reflects its design as a highly flexible merchant refining, blending and trading platform rather than a conventional single-crude refinery.
Also speaking, Head of Communications for the Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, said recent global supply disruptions, including the crisis in Venezuela, highlight the strategic importance of domestic refining for oil-producing countries such as Nigeria.
Bird reinforced the point, stressing that local refining insulates the economy from international oil and product price shocks.
On future diversification, Bird said the refinery is exploring opportunities in detergents, base oils, lubricants and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), driven by population growth and import substitution needs.
He added that steel structures for the planned expansion are expected to begin rising before the end of 2026, as the company pursues what he described as a “ruthless replication” strategy to scale its operations efficiently.
Bird concluded that Dangote Refinery is a continental project with the objective of driving price stability within international benchmark ranges, while ensuring that Nigeria’s fuel supply matches the quality standards of leading global markets.
