Dangote refinery capacity reaches 650,000 bpd after unit optimisation, with tests under way to confirm stability and boost petrol supply

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced that Dangote refinery capacity has reached its full nameplate level of 650,000 barrels per day in Lagos on Wednesday following the restoration and optimisation of its Crude Distillation Unit and Motor Spirit production block.

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The company described the development as a global first for a single-train refinery of comparable scale and confirmed that a 72-hour intensive performance test run has commenced in collaboration with its licensor, UOP, to validate operational stability, efficiency, and compliance with international standards.

According to the statement, the milestone followed scheduled maintenance on the Crude Distillation Unit and the MS Block, after which both units were stabilised for steady-state operations.

David Bird, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, said the seamless integration of the units demonstrated the refinery’s engineering depth and operational resilience.

David Bird said the performance testing phase would allow validation of the entire plant under real operating conditions and expressed confidence that the facility remained on course to deliver consistent, world-class output.

David Bird explained that the Crude Distillation Unit serves as the primary processing unit, separating crude oil into various fractions, while the MS Block, made up of the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit, and reformer unit, upgrades intermediate streams into high-octane petrol blend components.

All three components of the MS Block, David Bird added, are now operating steadily at the full 650,000 barrels per day rate, effectively stabilising petrol production output.

He said the remaining processing units across the refinery would begin their own performance test runs under Phase 2 next week, marking the final stages of technical validation across the integrated complex.

Beyond the engineering milestone, the company pointed to its expanding contribution to domestic fuel supply, stating that it delivered between 45 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit daily to the Nigerian market during the recent festive period.

With the Crude Distillation Unit and MS Block fully restored and optimised, the refinery said it is positioned to supply up to 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit daily as required, a volume expected to reshape domestic supply dynamics and reduce pressure on imports.

The announcement comes amid heightened national attention on energy security, foreign exchange conservation, and efforts to end Nigeria’s long-standing reliance on imported refined petroleum products despite its status as a major crude oil producer.

The company expressed appreciation to customers and Nigerians and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting energy security, industrial growth, employment, and economic diversification.