The Dangote Petrochemical Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refining facility, is set to increase its production capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) by December 2025, according to a report by Argus Media. This marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as the refinery inches closer to full optimisation and expands its influence on both domestic and international petroleum markets.
The latest report reveals that the increase represents a 50,000bpd boost from its current 650,000bpd operational capacity. The expansion is driven by ongoing operational optimisation, phased technological upgrades, and strategic de-bottlenecking at the multi-billion-dollar facility located in Lekki, Lagos.
Confirming the development, the Group Executive Director of Dangote Industries Limited, Edwin Devakumar, stated that the refinery’s performance has exceeded initial projections in several departments, prompting the capacity upgrade.
“The refinery is expanding from 650,000 barrels per day to 700,000 barrels per day, and this should be completed by the end of 2025,” Devakumar said.
He added that many operational units are running beyond their original nameplate capacity. For instance:
The mild hydrocracker is operating at 120% capacity.
The RFCC gasoline desulphurisation unit is running at 125% capacity.
The Penex process unit is at 140% capacity.
The naphtha hydrotreater is at 143% capacity.
These performance improvements are attributed to advanced processing technologies and improved crude efficiency, which have positioned the refinery as a key player in stabilising Nigeria’s fuel supply and boosting exports.
The expansion aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to achieve self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products and cut down on the country’s longstanding reliance on fuel imports. Since commencing operations in early 2024, the Dangote Refinery has ramped up its crude intake to 644,000bpd as of July 2025, according to data from Kpler.
The facility has already begun making an impact on global fuel markets. Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, disclosed that between June and July 2025, the refinery exported approximately 1 million tonnes of petrol—equivalent to 1.35 billion litres—to countries across the world.
The refinery’s growing output is expected to not only stabilise fuel prices locally but also position Nigeria as a major exporter of refined petroleum products, particularly to West African markets.
With the anticipated production boost, industry experts predict that the refinery will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s GDP growth, enhance foreign exchange earnings, and create more job opportunities in the oil and gas value chain. The improved output could also help reduce Nigeria’s foreign exchange burden on fuel imports, strengthening the naira in the medium term.
The refinery, which is part of Dangote’s broader petrochemical complex, also holds promise for petrochemical exports, bitumen production, and other downstream activities, making it a potential game-changer for Nigeria’s industrialisation drive.
The upcoming expansion to 700,000bpd reaffirms Dangote Refinery’s commitment to revolutionising Africa’s refining landscape. With global oil demand projected to rise and West African markets facing refined fuel shortages, Nigeria’s new refining giant is expected to play a critical role in regional energy security.
As December approaches, stakeholders within the oil sector and the international market will be keenly watching to see if the refinery meets its ambitious production target and how this expansion will influence global fuel trade dynamics.