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By Goli Innocent
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reached its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, becoming the first refinery in the world to achieve such output in a single train of that scale.
The company announced on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, that the milestone followed the optimisation of its Crude Distillation Unit and Motor Spirit production block, reinforcing steady-state operations at Africa’s largest refining facility.
According to the statement, the refinery has commenced a 72-hour performance test run in collaboration with its technology licensor, UOP, to validate operational efficiency and ensure all parameters meet global industry standards.
Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, David Bird, said the strong integration and performance of the CDU and MS Block underscore the plant’s engineering depth and operational resilience.
“Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision and expertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to see them functioning at optimal efficiency.
“This performance testing phase enables us to validate the entire plant under real operating conditions. We are confident that the refinery remains firmly on track to deliver consistent, world-class output,” Bird said.
He described the development as a testament to the refinery’s strength and reliability, stressing its potential to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape by reducing import dependence and positioning the country as a net exporter of petroleum products.
The CDU and MS Block, comprising the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit and reformer unit are now operating steadily at 650,000 bpd.
Other processing units are expected to begin their performance test runs in Phase Two, scheduled for next week.
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The refinery disclosed that it supplied between 45 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit daily during the recent festive period.
With full restoration of the CDU and MS Block, it said it can now deliver up to 75 million litres of PMS daily to the domestic market.
Energy analysts view the 650,000 bpd facility as a game-changer for Nigeria’s oil sector.
At full operation, the refinery could save the country up to $10 billion annually in foreign exchange, create thousands of jobs, strengthen the naira and boost regional energy security.
By cutting reliance on imported refined products, historically over 80 per cent of domestic consumption, the refinery is also expected to stabilise fuel supply, reduce price volatility and end recurring shortages, while supporting downstream industries such as petrochemicals and fertiliser production.
Situated on a 6,180-acre site in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos, the refinery is fed by a 1,100-kilometre subsea pipeline network.
In October 2025, Aliko Dangote unveiled plans to expand capacity to 1.4 million bpd, a move that would surpass India’s 1.36 million bpd Jamnagar facility to become the world’s largest refinery.
The proposed expansion is expected to support additional petrochemical investments, including linear alkylbenzene and base oils production, and raise annual polypropylene output from one million to 1.5 million metric tonnes.
With the latest milestone, the Dangote Refinery strengthens its position at the centre of Nigeria’s push for energy self-sufficiency and industrial transformation.
