Dangote Refinery sets global record, hits 650,000 bpd capacity

By Adewale Sanyaolu

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has made history, becoming the first refinery in the world to run its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) Block at full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Following scheduled maintenance, the refinery conducted a 72‑hour intensive performance test in collaboration with UOP, the global licensor, confirming that all operational parameters meet international standards. CEO, David Bird, hailed the achievement as a testament to the refinery’s engineering excellence, saying, “With the CDU and MS Block now operating at full efficiency, Dangote Refinery is firmly on track to deliver consistent, world‑class output. This milestone reinforces our commitment to Nigeria’s energy security and industrial growth.”

During the festive period, the refinery supplied 45–50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With full capacity restored, output is set to rise to 75 million litres daily, ensuring the domestic market is fully supplied while reducing fuel imports.

The CDU and MS Block, which include the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation, and reformer units, will be followed by Phase 2 tests for the remaining processing units next week.

This historic milestone positions Nigeria as a regional energy powerhouse and sets a global benchmark for refinery operations, while supporting job creation, industrialisation, and economic diversification.