The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has taken a major step toward becoming the world’s largest single-location refining complex after sealing a strategic partnership with US-based Honeywell International. Announced on Tuesday, the deal is expected to support Dangote’s bold plan to double refinery capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028 — barely a month after the company unveiled its expansion roadmap. Honeywell will provide catalysts, specialist equipment and advanced technologies designed to help the refinery process a wider mix of crude oil grades and run more efficiently.
According to a statement from Dangote Group, the partnership represents a critical milestone in its long-term ambition to reshape Africa’s energy landscape. Honeywell’s contribution will include high-performance process technologies that improve product quality and operational reliability. This also marks a continuation of a long-standing relationship, as Honeywell’s UOP division has supplied key refining systems and equipment to the plant since 2017.
The agreement goes beyond fuel production. Dangote Group confirmed plans to deploy Honeywell UOP’s Oleflex technology to scale its polypropylene capacity to 2.4 million metric tonnes per year — a move set to strengthen Nigeria’s standing in the global petrochemicals market. Although financial details were not disclosed publicly, sources told Reuters the deal could exceed $250 million depending on the final expansion configuration. Polypropylene remains one of the most widely used materials in packaging, manufacturing and automotive components, making this investment strategically significant for Nigeria’s industrial growth.
Dangote Group is also expanding its fertiliser business, announcing plans to increase annual urea production from 3 million to 9 million metric tonnes. The new phase will add four additional production trains to meet the rapidly rising demand for fertiliser across Africa and global markets. This broader industrial push aligns with Nigeria’s urgent need to reduce import dependency, especially in the energy sector where decades of failed maintenance have left state-owned refineries inactive despite significant public spending.
As the $20bn Dangote Refinery shifts from construction milestones to full operational maturity, the partnership with Honeywell signals a new era of global competitiveness for Nigeria’s refining industry. With a second processing train underway, the plant could soon absorb nearly all of Nigeria’s crude oil output and potentially position the nation as a regional energy hub. Dangote Group says it remains committed to building world-class industrial capacity, strengthening energy security and driving sustainable economic growth through innovation and long-term global partnerships.
source: punch