The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed reports suggesting it plans to shut its petrol unit for up to three months, describing the claims as false. The company’s spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, reacted sharply to the speculation, calling it “fake news” and questioning the credibility of the report that originated from Reuters, which cited industry monitor IIR Energy.
Reuters had earlier reported that the 204,000 barrels-per-day Residue Fluidised Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU) at the $20 billion refinery had been shut since late August following catalyst leaks. The report claimed repairs and equipment replacements could extend downtime for months, with a tentative restart scheduled for September 20. Chiejina, however, rejected the claims outright, insisting that the refinery remains operational and that such reports mislead the public.
The Dangote refinery, which began operations in January 2024, has already reshaped global trade flows, reducing Europe’s petrol exports to Nigeria and even shipping gasoline cargoes to the United States. This milestone demonstrated the refinery’s ability to produce fuel that meets international standards, positioning Nigeria as a key player in global energy supply.
In recent months, the refinery has expanded its crude sourcing strategy, importing Ghana’s Sankofa crude for the first time in August 2025, alongside blends from Brazil and Angola. Analysts note that Dangote’s diversification reflects both supply challenges at home and cost competitiveness abroad, with U.S. light sweet crude now making up the majority of its feedstock.
Market data from Kpler shows that the refinery is currently operating at about 68 percent of its total capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, with crude deliveries hitting a record 570,000 bpd in July. Despite ongoing challenges with local crude supply, Dangote Refinery has signaled plans to ramp up production to 700,000 bpd by December 2025, reinforcing its role as a game-changer in Nigeria’s energy sector and a stabilizer for global petrol markets.
Source: Punch