Dangote Refinery has announced plans to reach a crude oil refining capacity of 700,000 barrels per day (BPD).

David Bird, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP), shared this during a media interview in Lagos, emphasizing the refinery’s commitment to meeting domestic fuel demand amid global market volatility.

Currently, the refinery operates at 650,000 BPD, having conducted a performance test that reached 661,000 BPD. Bird expressed confidence in achieving the 700,000 BPD target, noting that reaching full capacity will require coordination with insurance and market stakeholders.

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“We see that we will be able to move to 700,000 BPD with deliberate management. But right now, for transparency, we are operating at our nameplate capacity of 650,000 BPD,” Bird said.

To operate at full capacity, Dangote Refinery requires 13–14 crude cargoes per month. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been supplying about five cargoes monthly, necessitating additional purchases from international traders to meet demand.

Global tensions have caused Brent Crude prices to hover around $115 per barrel, forcing the refinery to pay premium prices for imports. Bird explained that the refinery absorbs roughly 20% of these increased costs, passing the remaining 80% to marketers and end-users.

The Federal Government, through NNPCL, has engaged third-party international traders to ensure a steady crude supply for the refinery, even as global market volatility continues.

The refinery’s strategy reflects efforts to stabilize fuel supply in Nigeria while navigating challenges from fluctuating international oil prices.