Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Unit Rates 34%, Slashing Gasoline Exports to 10,000 bpd
Updated
Updated · Business Insider Africa · Jun 10
Dangote Refinery Cuts Petrol Unit Rates 34%, Slashing Gasoline Exports to 10,000 bpd
2 articles · Updated · Business Insider Africa · Jun 10
Summary
Dangote refinery has run its main gasoline-making RFCCU 34% below normal since May 21, curbing output at Africa’s largest refining complex.
Lighter crude initially left the unit short of feed, and IIR Energy said a flue gas slide gate valve problem later compounded the disruption; repairs are nearly complete and full rates are expected by mid-June.
Gasoline exports have already dropped sharply—from 81,000 barrels per day in April to 17,000 bpd in May and about 10,000 bpd so far in June, according to Kpler.
The 700,000-bpd refinery became fully operational earlier this year and has been reshaping West African fuel trade, so even a brief outage is closely watched across Nigeria and the region.
That matters more as Middle East tensions lift oil prices, raising concern that lower domestic refining output could tighten fuel supply and add pressure to Nigerian fuel costs.
Is Africa's largest refinery's repeated failure a sign of deeper troubles ahead?
Nigeria promised to fuel West Africa. Can its new mega-refinery deliver?
Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery Slashes Gasoline Exports in 2026: Temporary Disruptions and Economic Consequences
Overview
The Dangote Refinery, after establishing itself as a major gasoline exporter by March 2026 with exports of about 44,000 barrels per day, has seen a sharp drop to just 10,000 barrels per day by June 2026. This sudden reduction is mainly due to temporary operational and feedstock challenges affecting its Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU), which led to a lower operating rate and disrupted gasoline production. As a result, the refinery’s reduced output has drawn significant attention from consumers and fuel marketers, highlighting the impact of operational issues on both domestic supply and export activities.