Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, has assured Nigerians that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has enough petrol in storage to meet the country’s needs. Speaking at the weekend, Dangote revealed that the refinery currently holds over half a billion litres of petrol, valued at more than ₦600 billion.
“As we speak right now, we have more than half a billion litres of petroleum products in our tanks,” Dangote stated. “The refinery is producing enough refined products petrol, diesel, and kerosene to meet 100% of Nigeria’s requirements.”
Dangote made this statement during a tour of the refinery by Zambia’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote. He stressed that the refinery is not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent. “This refinery is not only for Nigeria; it is for Africa. We must sustain the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) deal. We are looking at how we can trade with other African countries,” he said.
Zambia’s Energy Minister, impressed by the refinery’s scale and capacity, expressed his country’s interest in partnering with Dangote to address Zambia’s energy challenges. “We are looking at Dangote coming on board, which would lead to efficient, reliable, quality, and competitive products. We want this to happen as soon as possible,” Chikote stated.
The visit included a tour of the refinery’s massive complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, including its Single Point Mooring system, the Dangote Jetty, and the fertiliser plant Africa’s largest. Chikote described the refinery as a game-changer for Africa’s energy independence. “From what we have seen, we need to promote trade within Africa to strengthen each other. We must work together so Africa can stand on its own and not rely on foreign aid,” he added.
Dangote’s refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is the largest single-train refinery in the world. Since beginning operations in January 2024, it has been refining petrol, diesel, and jet fuel to cut Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products.
Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Edwin Devakumar, further explained the refinery’s capacity. “Every day, we produce 104 million litres of lighter products, including 57 million litres of petrol, 20 million litres of jet fuel, and 27 million litres of diesel. The local consumption is around 46 million litres, and the remaining 58 million litres will be exported daily,” he stated.
While Nigeria still imports some petrol, the refinery’s growing production capacity is expected to significantly reduce reliance on foreign fuel. “We are committed to ensuring Nigeria has a stable fuel supply while also supporting other African nations,” Dangote assured.
With its increasing output and focus on regional trade, the Dangote Refinery is set to reshape Africa’s energy landscape, providing a reliable alternative to imported fuel and strengthening the continent’s economic future.