By The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been expanded from 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.4 million bpd to drive the emerging opportunities across Africa, as well as Nigeria’s evolving policy environment.
Announcing the expansion plan during a press parley in Lagos at the weekend, President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said “the expansion reflects our confidence in Nigeria’s future, our belief in Africa’s potential, and our commitment to building energy independence for our continent and the world. “
Dangote said the $20 billion facility, already the largest single-train refinery in the world will more than double its capacity within the next three years, making it a global leader in petroleum refining and a major driver of Africa’s industrial renaissance.
Dangote revealed that the expansion project will be executed over the next three years and will be financed through a mix of cash flow, public listing, and strategic investors adding that when completed, the refinery will surpass India’s Jamnagar Refinery, currently the world’s largest, cementing Nigeria’s position as a global refining hub.
He said the refinery will also expand its polypropylene production capacity from 900,000 metric tonnes to 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum, further boosting the output of linear alkylbenzene, a key ingredient in detergent manufacturing, along with additional production of base oils.
“With this expansion, the refinery transitions from producing Euro V to Euro VI fuel standards, meeting the highest global environmental benchmarks,” he said.
“We will also expand our power generation capacity to 1,000 megawatts, ensuring complete operational self-sufficiency. More than 85% of our workforce will be Nigerian, with continuous investment in skills development and technology transfer. Our commitment to safety, sustainability, and local participation remains unwavering throughout every phase of the expansion”
He estimated that the refinery’s revenue could exceed $55 billion annually, making it one of the most valuable industrial assets on the African continent.
“This expansion will create additional jobs, support thousands of SMEs, and deepen our industrial base. Our goal has never been just to refine oil, but to refine opportunities for our people” he said.
Despite not yet recouping the initial investment in the 650,000 bpd phase, he said the group is focused on long-term transformation rather than short-term returns.
As Nigeria approaches the festive season, Dangote assured the public that there would be no fuel scarcity or price hike during the ember months, despite recent global price increases.
