Lagos – Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day following a performance test conducted by Process Licensors, surpassing its nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and cementing its status as the world’s largest single train petroleum refinery.
The milestone is part of a broader strategy to more than double capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within 30 months, which would position the facility as potentially the largest refinery in the world.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President for Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, said the expansion is expected to boost Nigeria’s energy self-sufficiency, eliminate the country’s dependence on imported refined products and strengthen its position as a regional export hub. 
“The refinery’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate move toward continental and global refining dominance, not just domestic supply sufficiency,” Edwin said.
Owned by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, the refinery commenced fuel production in 2024 and has steadily increased output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other refined petroleum products. The facility has established itself as a major supplier to both domestic and international markets, exporting refined petroleum products to several African countries and key European destinations including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. It has also supplied gasoline to the American market and jet fuel to Saudi Arabia.
The refinery’s growing significance has been felt across the continent, with many African countries turning to it for energy security amid ongoing disruptions caused by tensions in the Middle East.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery became the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel in April, according to S&P Global Commodities.
The facility has played a key role in stabilising fuel supplies in Nigeria, helping eliminate dependence on imported petroleum products and easing pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. Growing production volumes have also attracted increased interest from global crude suppliers and commodity trading firms, with the refinery sourcing feedstock from both domestic and international producers.
Dangote has outlined plans to transform the facility into the world’s largest refinery by 2028, targeting a processing capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day, an expansion expected to deliver substantial economic benefits including job creation, increased industrial activity and improved trade balances.
The refinery is also expected to strengthen downstream manufacturing by ensuring a reliable supply of liquefied petroleum gas and other key industrial feedstocks, including polypropylene used in packaging materials and consumer goods, as well as a future supply of Linear Alkylbenzene used in detergent production.
