Africa’s wealthiest entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote, has once again reassured the nation that his Dangote Refinery has the capacity to meet domestic fuel needs, emphasizing the importance of a stable supply of crude oil to maximize output.
Speaking in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Dangote highlighted that while petrol remains plentiful at the refinery, supplies of jet fuel and diesel are rapidly diminishing, reflecting strong domestic and regional demand. “Today, we have almost sold out our jet fuel. We have almost sold out our gas oil. What we have is just the gasoline, which we call Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” he said.
According to Business Insider Africa, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, Africa’s largest, has become increasingly crucial amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and supply disruptions affecting the continent. Countries across Africa have been turning to Dangote’s facility as a reliable source of refined petroleum products, highlighting its strategic role in regional energy security.
Industry insiders, however, warn that the refinery may soon divert some of its production for export, following the Nigerian government’s resumption of fuel import licenses. The Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority recently granted six new licences for the importation of petrol, a move that could influence the availability of fuel for local consumption.
Dangote’s refinery CEO, David Bird, added that operational inefficiencies tied to the naira-for-crude arrangement have limited the refinery’s ability to reach its full production potential. “Under our agreement, we should be processing about 13 to 15 cargoes a month to satisfy domestic fuel demand. Currently, we’re only receiving five, which is far below expectations,” Bird explained.
Despite these challenges, Dangote has consistently maintained that the refinery can meet Nigeria’s fuel requirements if crude supply remains consistent, a promise he has reiterated several times over the past months. Earlier this year, the refinery pledged to support Nigeria in mitigating the impact of rising global petroleum prices, particularly after the government temporarily suspended fuel importation licences.
In February, the refinery was able to meet roughly 92% of Nigeria’s fuel demand, though petrol availability fell sharply from 64.9 million liters per day in January to 39.6 million liters per day. Analysts say sustaining domestic supply while balancing potential exports will be critical as global oil markets remain volatile.
As Nigeria navigates both internal supply constraints and international energy pressures, Dangote’s refinery continues to stand at the center of discussions on fuel security, pricing stability, and energy independence for Africa’s largest economy.
