The Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, is currently undergoing a modification
process to increase its production capacity from 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 700,000
bpd. The upgrade, which aims to boost the refinery’s
nameplate capacity by an additional 50,000 bpd, is expected to be completed by the fourth
quarter of 2025.
President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, revealed this during a recent facility tour
with journalists and visitors. He explained that while the refinery is already operational, it has not yet reached full capacity due to ongoing modifications. However, he expressed
confidence that the upgrade would significantly improve the refinery’s performance and
output.
Dangote stated that the Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit a critical component in refining heavy crude into lighter and more valuable products like gasoline, diesel, and LPG is currently running at 85% of its capacity. The RFCC process plays a key role in maximizing output efficiency and value.
“Our RFCC is operating at 85 per cent,” he said. “We’re not yet at 100 per cent because of
ongoing modifications, but once they’re completed by year-end, we expect to scale up
production to 700,000 bpd. In fact, many other components of the refinery are already
running at full capacity, and some even at 145 per cent. So, we’re making excellent
progress.”
In addition to the upgrade, Dangote disclosed that the refinery sourced 19 million barrels of
crude oil from the United States between June and July 2025. Of that amount, 10 million
barrels were purchased in early July alone, making the U.S. the source of around 55% of the refinery’s crude feedstock this month. He emphasized that securing a stable crude supply is essential to maintaining consistent operations at the new facility.
Dangote also reflected on the journey that led to the development of the $20 billion refinery.
He said the decision to embark on the massive project was born out of a desire to make
Nigeria and Africa more self-reliant in energy production. He revealed that he initially
intended to buy government-owned refineries, but the plan was halted in 2007 under the
administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. That setback led him to consider building a brand-new refinery from the ground up.
However, Dangote admitted that the task turned out to be far more complex than anticipated.
“Building a refinery is nothing like building a house,” he said. “Had I known the extent of the
challenges involved, I might not have started it. But now that it’s completed, I’m proud of
what we’ve achieved. It shows that nothing is impossible.”
The Dangote Refinery, the largest single-train facility in the world, is a key strategic asset
expected to reshape Nigeria’s petroleum sector, reduce dependency on fuel imports, and
enhance the country’s energy security. Once the upgrade is completed, the refinery is
poised to operate at its highest capacity yet, solidifying its role in the global energy market.
