Domestic Refineries Poised to Cut Petrol Imports as Local Capacity Rises in 2026
Domestic oil refiners in Nigeria say the country is on the verge of drastically reducing petrol imports in 2026, as local refining capacity continues to expand. The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) said its members, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, now have the installed capacity to supply most—if not all—of the country’s fuel needs, provided critical bottlenecks are resolved.
Despite progress, petrol imports still dominated Nigeria’s fuel supply in 2025. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed that total petrol consumption stood at about 18.97 billion litres, with imports accounting for 62.47 per cent. Domestic refineries supplied roughly 7.54 billion litres, or 37.53 per cent, underscoring the country’s continued reliance on foreign fuel despite the ramp-up of local refining.
CORAN’s Publicity Secretary, Eche Idoko, said the figures do not reflect the true capacity of local refineries, arguing that inadequate crude oil supply remains the major constraint. He noted that the Dangote refinery currently produces about 50 million litres of petrol daily but could do more with reliable feedstock. Several modular refineries, he added, are operating far below capacity or shutting down intermittently due to crude shortages.
Idoko expressed confidence that locally refined petroleum products would surpass imports in 2026 if crude supply issues are addressed. He explained that Nigeria’s peak daily petrol consumption is around 54 million litres, meaning the gap could be closed if modular refineries are fully supplied. He also called on the government to support refiners through dedicated funding mechanisms, similar to incentives already available in the gas sector.
Meanwhile, the Dangote refinery has intensified operations, increasing daily supply and introducing night-time loading to sustain nationwide distribution. Imports fell sharply toward the end of 2025 as Dangote’s output rose, a trend industry players say could continue. Refiners insist that with fair regulation, improved data tracking, and guaranteed crude availability, Nigeria could finally curb petrol imports and strengthen its energy security in the year ahead.
source: punch