Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery in Lekki has reached its announced processing capacity of 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, positioning the facility as Africa’s largest single-train refinery and one of the most significant globally, according to Nigerian media reports.
Located in the Lekki Free Zone near Lagos, the refinery has completed its ramp-up and technical optimisation phase and is now operating at its nominal capacity. Operators say the facility has transitioned from trial operations to sustained commercial production.
Technical managers attribute the milestone to adjustments in distillation columns and fuel treatment units, enabling an estimated daily output of 75 million litres of petrol. Efficiency in conversion and treatment units has been highlighted as critical to maintaining a steady flow of refined products from locally sourced crude oil.
Operating at full capacity is expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined fuel, a long-standing challenge for Africa’s largest oil producer. Analysts cited in local media suggest that surplus output could be exported to neighbouring countries, potentially reshaping regional petroleum trade dynamics.
Economists also point to potential job creation and growth in related sectors such as logistics, distribution and industrial services around the Lekki site. However, the impact on domestic fuel prices will depend on the company’s commercial strategy and national fiscal policies.
The Dangote Group has signalled plans to further expand refining capacity, with proposals to double output to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day. As part of this expansion, engineering and development contracts have been signed, including a reported $350 million agreement with Engineers India Limited (EIL) to support the project.
The industrial scale-up of the Lekki refinery comes at a time when regional governments are prioritising energy self-sufficiency and local value addition in the oil sector. The additional capacity from the Dangote facility could alter refined product flows between Nigeria and its neighbours, marking a significant shift in West Africa’s energy landscape.
