Dangote Refinery hits 650,000bpd output after system optimisation, claims MD

THE Dangote Petroleum Refinery has officially scaled up operations to its full installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, following the successful restoration and optimisation of key processing units, the company’s managing director has claimed.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Mr David Bird, said the breakthrough represents a major step in the operational ramp-up of Africa’s largest refining complex. He described the feat as a rare global achievement for a single-train refinery of this magnitude.

Central to the milestone was the stabilisation of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Motor Spirit (MS) production block, both of which recently underwent routine maintenance. After the exercise, the units were recalibrated and integrated to enable continuous, steady-state operations at full throughput.

To validate the refinery’s performance at peak capacity, Mr Bird confirmed that a 72-hour intensive test run is currently underway in collaboration with its technology licensor, UOP. The exercise is designed to assess plant stability, efficiency and compliance with international operating standards under real production conditions.

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He said the smooth synchronisation of the CDU and MS Block reflects the depth of engineering expertise within the facility.

“Our technical teams displayed remarkable precision in restoring and stabilising both units. Seeing them operate at optimal efficiency is a testament to their professionalism. The performance test phase allows us to validate the refinery as a fully integrated system under live operating conditions,” Mr Bird said.

He added that the achievement demonstrates the refinery’s reliability and technical strength, noting that the company remains focused on delivering world-class refined products capable of transforming Nigeria’s downstream energy sector, reducing import dependence and positioning the country as a petroleum products exporter.

Explaining the role of the key units, Mr Bird said the CDU is the backbone of the refinery, where crude oil is separated into various fractions. These intermediate streams are then upgraded within the MS Block, which consists of a naphtha hydrotreater, an isomerisation unit and a reformer that together produce high-octane petrol blend components.

According to him, all three sections of the MS Block are now running steadily at the full 650,000bpd throughput, effectively stabilising petrol production across the complex.

Mr Bird also disclosed that the remaining processing units within the refinery will begin their own performance tests under Phase Two of the commissioning programme next week, marking the final stage of technical validation for the entire integrated plant.

Beyond engineering success, he said the refnery is already making a tangible impact on Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply. During the recent festive season, the plant delivered between 45 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily to the local market.

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With the CDU and MS Block now fully optimised, Mr Bird stated that it has the capacity to supply up to 75 million litres of PMS per day when required. This level of output, he said, could significantly ease domestic shortages and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel.

The announcement comes at a time of heightened national attention on energy security, foreign exchange (FX) conservation and the drive to end decades of dependence on imported refined petroleum products, despite Nigeria’s status as a major crude oil producer.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery thanked its customers and Nigerians for their support, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the nation’s energy sercurity, promoting industrial growth, creating jobs and supporting economic diversification.

The company also reiterated plans to expand the facility’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within the next three years.

On Tuesday, Dangote Petroleum Refinery trimmed its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price by N25 per litre, bringing the ex-depot rate down from N799 to N774. Industry observers see the move as a deliberate price adjustment in response to changing market conditions in 2026.