Dangote Refinery Cuts Nigeria’s Malta Petrol Imports by 60% as Local Supply Surges
Nigeria’s petrol imports from Malta have fallen sharply, dropping by 60 percent in 2024, as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery ramps up its output and reshapes the country’s fuel supply landscape. Fresh data from TradeMap reveals that Nigeria imported about $818 million worth of petroleum products from Malta in 2024—down steeply from over $2.1 billion in 2023. The dramatic decline marks a significant shift away from reliance on foreign refined fuels.
The sudden spike in Malta-origin imports in 2023 had raised eyebrows across the energy sector. Between 2017 and 2022, Nigeria recorded virtually no petrol imports from the island nation. But in 2023, shipments surged amid allegations of unusual routing and blending operations. At the time, Aliko Dangote accused certain NNPC personnel and oil traders of using Malta as a blending hub, sparking concerns over transparency, forex leakages, and supply-chain integrity.
The game-changer arrived with the operational scale-up of the 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest single-train refining complex. The facility began producing diesel and aviation fuel in early 2024 before rolling out petrol. Energy analysts say its growing output is directly responsible for Nigeria’s shrinking import bill. By Q1 2025, Nigeria’s petrol import costs had already fallen by 54 percent year-on-year, while seaborne imports of clean petroleum products dropped 39 percent in the first seven months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
TradeGrid’s country manager, Jide Pratt, notes that as domestic refining stabilizes, import dependence naturally eases. However, he warns that Nigeria still faces risks tied to potential refinery maintenance downtime, especially if the Dangote Refinery’s RFCC unit experiences shutdowns. With Nigeria’s state-owned refineries still inactive, Dangote remains the primary source of locally refined petrol, leaving the market vulnerable during maintenance cycles.
The continued ramp-up at Dangote’s Lagos refinery is reshaping Nigeria’s energy fortunes. Not only has it pushed petrol imports from Malta to historic lows, but rising domestic production is also positioning Nigeria to reclaim its long-lost status as a net exporter of refined petroleum products. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s seaborne crude oil loadings slipped to 1.676 million bpd in October, their lowest since April, adding another layer of complexity to the country’s evolving oil and gas landscape.
source: Business day