Dangote Refinery Starts 700,000-BPD Unit, Targeting 1.4 Million BPD Capacity by 2028
Updated
Updated · African Energy Chamber · Jun 5
Dangote Refinery Starts 700,000-BPD Unit, Targeting 1.4 Million BPD Capacity by 2028
3 articles · Updated · African Energy Chamber · Jun 5
Summary
A second 700,000-bpd crude unit has entered construction at Dangote’s Lekki refinery, setting up a doubling of total capacity to about 1.4 million bpd by 2028.
Near-full utilization of the existing 650,000-bpd plant in 2026 drove the expansion after the refinery began processing crude in 2024 and rapidly ramped output.
Nigeria has already cut fuel imports sharply as the refinery meets most domestic demand, with surplus petrol, diesel and jet fuel moving into regional and international markets.
That added capacity could ease pressure on foreign-exchange reserves and strengthen Nigeria’s balance of payments while giving West Africa a larger role in fuel supply during global shipping disruptions and refinery outages.
The project also reinforces a broader shift in African energy investment, with the African Energy Chamber casting large, privately financed refining and integrated industrial hubs as increasingly bankable across the continent.
Nigeria's refinery expands while importing crude. Will this massive gamble for energy sovereignty pay off?
How is one Nigerian refinery single-handedly reshaping global fuel markets from Africa to Europe?
Dangote Refinery’s 700,000 bpd Surge: Transforming Nigeria’s Energy Market and Africa’s Industrial Future
Overview
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has rapidly increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day, making it the world’s largest single-train facility. This robust expansion, driven by advanced engineering and operational efficiency, has significantly boosted Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply and moved the country closer to fuel self-sufficiency. The refinery’s ramp-up has not only strengthened local output but also set the stage for further growth, with ambitions to double capacity by 2028. These achievements highlight Dangote’s pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape and supporting economic resilience.