Dangote Refinery meets Nigeria’s fuel needs,opens trade opportunities

Dangote Group has announced that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is now producing 57 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, daily, effectively meeting Nigeria’s total domestic fuel demand.

Speaking during a recent tour of the refinery complex by a Zambian government delegation, the President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, disclosed that the refinery has sufficient petrol reserves to meet Nigeria’s needs. He highlighted that the refinery currently holds over half a billion liters of petroleum products, valued at more than ₦600 billion.

“As we speak right now, we have more than half a billion litres. The refinery is producing enough refined products, including gasoline, diesel, and kerosene, to meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirements,” Dangote stated.

He emphasized that the refinery project is not just for Nigeria but for the entire African continent, aligning with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “This refinery is not only for Nigeria; it is for Africa. We must sustain the AfCFTA deal. We are trying to see how we trade with other African countries,” he said.

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The Zambian delegation, led by the country’s Minister of Energy, Makozo Chikote, expressed admiration for the scale and impact of the refinery. Chikote noted that Dangote’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of intra-African trade.

“The takeaway from this visit is that President Aliko Dangote is truly focused on the bigger picture for Africa. The presentation by Vice President, Oil and Gas, Edwin Devakumar, made our hearts ‘jump.’ It speaks directly to the energy challenges in Zambia,” Chikote remarked.

The Zambian energy minister further highlighted his country’s reliance on private sector participation in petroleum supply and expressed readiness to collaborate with Dangote Refinery. “We are looking at Dangote coming on board, which would lead to efficient, reliable, quality, and competitive products. We want these changes implemented as soon as possible,” he said.

Another key member of the Zambian delegation, Samuel Maimbo, Vice President of Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank Group, also underscored the importance of private sector-driven development in Africa. “There is not enough government funding or development aid to drive Africa’s growth at the required pace. The only way forward is through private sector investment, which is why we are here to learn from Dangote’s ambitious model,” he said.

Edwin Devakumar, Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, assured that the refinery produces high-quality petroleum products as part of its core business strategy. “The project was designed to process crude oil from Nigeria and add value, while also having the flexibility to refine other African and Middle Eastern crudes,” he explained.

He further detailed the refinery’s output capacity, revealing that 44 percent of its production meets Nigeria’s needs, while the remaining 56 percent is earmarked for export. “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. Since local consumption stands at approximately 46 million litres daily, the surplus of 58 million litres will be exported,” Devakumar stated.