Dangote Refinery achieves full capacity, sets global benchmark
The Dangote Refinery has announced that its plant is now operating at its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, making it the first refinery in the world to achieve this milestone.
In a statement on Wednesday, the refinery said the achievement follows the full restoration and optimization of its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) production block, which were recently taken offline for routine maintenance.
“Following a scheduled maintenance exercise on the CDU and MS Block, the refinery has commenced an intensive 72-hour performance testing phase in collaboration with licensor UOP,” the statement said. These tests are designed to ensure the plant meets global operational standards.
During the recent festive period, the refinery supplied between 45 and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With the CDU and MS Block now fully operational, the facility is expected to deliver up to 75 million litres of PMS daily to the domestic market.
David Bird, CEO of Dangote Refinery, said the milestone reflects the refinery’s advanced engineering and operational excellence. “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,” he said.
Bird added that this performance testing phase confirms the plant’s capacity for consistent, world-class output and positions Nigeria to reduce fuel imports and become a net exporter of petroleum products.
The CDU and MS Block include the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit, and reformer unit, all of which are now operating at their full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. Phase 2 of performance testing for the remaining processing units is scheduled to begin next week.
This achievement marks a significant step for Africa’s largest oil refining facility, underscoring the refinery’s role in transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape.
