Dangote refinery denies shutdown rumours in strong rebuttal

Dangote Refinery denies reports of petrol unit shutdown, calling the claims fake news amid record output and crude imports

Dangote Refinery has firmly dismissed claims suggesting it may shut its petrol unit for up to three months, labelling the reports as “fake news.”

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A Reuters report had earlier stated that the 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery’s petrol unit might be closed due to catalyst leaks, citing data from industry monitor IIR Energy.

The report claimed the unit had been offline since August 29 and might remain shut for major repairs, despite an attempt to restart the Residue Fluidised Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU) around September 20.

But in a sharp rebuttal on Sunday, Dangote Refinery spokesperson Anthony Chiejina rejected the report, questioning the reliability of its language and source.

“Fake news. Why ‘could’ if they are sure?” Chiejina said when contacted for clarification.

The RFCCU, with a 204,000 bpd capacity, is a critical part of the facility’s output capacity.

Reuters had also suggested it would be offline for at least two weeks, but Dangote Group maintains operations are ongoing.

This comes amid growing attention on the refinery’s impact on global fuel markets. Since commencing crude processing in January 2024, Dangote Refinery has significantly reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel.

European gasoline exports to Nigeria dropped from an average of 200,000 bpd to just 120,000 bpd in the first half of 2025.

The refinery recently hit another milestone by shipping two gasoline cargoes to the U.S. East Coast — a clear signal that it can now meet stringent American fuel standards.

In August, Dangote imported Sankofa crude from Ghana for the first time, marking a diversification from lighter, sweeter Nigerian blends.

According to Kpler, Sankofa’s arrival adds to a growing list of medium-sweet crudes like Brazil’s Mero and Angola’s Pazflor being processed at the facility.

Local crude supply challenges have forced the refinery to increasingly source from the U.S., with American grades now making up 60% of its July intake — overtaking Nigerian crude for the first time.

Crude inflows suggest the Dangote Refinery is currently running at around 445,000 bpd, representing 68% of its total capacity.

The figure is expected to dip slightly during scheduled maintenance in December and January.

Despite global speculation and logistical complexities, the refinery is pushing ahead with plans to ramp up to 700,000 bpd by December 2025.

The Petroleum Ministry has reiterated the need for Nigeria to increase domestic production to meet both local demand and international commitments.

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With a firm stance against misinformation and strong production metrics, Dangote Refinery continues to position itself as a transformative force in Africa’s energy sector.

Source: Read more at thesun.ng

David Okere