Dangote Refinery operated at 100 per cent capacity utilisation for most days in April 2026, according to new operational data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), underscoring the refinery’s growing dominance in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
The latest NMDPRA April 2026 factsheet showed that domestic refineries recorded an average capacity utilisation of 99.12 per cent during the month, with Dangote Refinery specifically highlighted for sustaining full operational capacity across most trading days.
The development reflects a significant operational milestone for the 650,000 barrels-per-day Lekki-based refinery, which has increasingly become central to Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply and refined product exports.
Data from the report further showed that domestic crude oil supply to local refineries rose sharply in April to 20.92 million barrels, compared to 13.11 million barrels recorded in March, while imported crude receipts declined to 0.41 million barrels.
Industry analysts said the figures point to stronger utilisation of domestic crude feedstock and improving stability in local refining operations, driven largely by Dangote Refinery’s sustained production levels.
The report revealed that average daily petrol production stood at 53.6 million litres during the month, with domestic supply reaching 40.7 million litres per day and exports accounting for 17.1 million litres daily.
Diesel production averaged 23.6 million litres per day, while aviation fuel output reached 22.9 million litres daily. Export volumes remained particularly strong, with 17.8 million litres of diesel and 20.5 million litres of aviation fuel exported daily during the period.
Market observers noted that the refinery’s sustained high-capacity operations have continued to reshape Nigeria’s fuel supply chain by reducing dependence on imported refined petroleum products and expanding Nigeria’s export presence within regional fuel markets.
The NMDPRA data also showed that Nigeria’s average daily petrol consumption stood at 51.1 million litres in April, exceeding the national benchmark estimate of 50 million litres per day.
Meanwhile, national fuel sufficiency levels stood at 18 days for petrol, 39 days for diesel, 70 days for aviation fuel and 13 days for LPG.
Industry stakeholders said Dangote Refinery’s near-full utilisation rate is increasingly positioning the facility as a stabilising force within Nigeria’s downstream market, especially amid fluctuating international crude prices and shifting import dynamics.
Analysts also noted that the refinery’s strong export performance in diesel and jet fuel demonstrates growing competitiveness within international refined product markets, particularly across Africa and Europe.
The refinery, commissioned in 2023 after nearly a decade of construction, remains the largest single-train refinery in the world and one of the biggest industrial projects on the African continent.