Dangote refinery ramps Nigeria crude runs to 600,000 bpd, starts LPG exports to West Africa

The Dangote refinery in Nigeria ramped up crude processing to about 600,000 barrels per day and began exporting liquefied petroleum gas to West Africa as of early 2026, company officials said. The refinery, operating near its 650,000 bpd nameplate capacity, increased its use of locally sourced Nigerian crude to replace imported feedstock, aiming for 100% local crude by year-end.

These units have been operating steadily at that throughput level, marking the facility as the world’s largest single-train refinery, the company said. While daily crude runs commonly hover around 600,000 bpd during routine operations, performance tests have temporarily pushed throughput to approximately 700,000 bpd, according to a separate report cited in broadcast coverage.

The refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) block completed performance tests at the full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) in February 2026, according to Dangote Petroleum Refinery officials.

The refinery’s ramp-up to near-full capacity has been gradual since initial crude shipments began in December 2023, with local reports in August 2025 indicating throughput of about 610,000 bpd. Dangote Industries executives have stated that the refinery is transitioning to processing 100% Nigerian crude by the end of 2026, replacing imported feedstock that supported earlier operations. As of mid-2025, roughly half of the crude processed came from Nigerian producers, according to Devakumar Edwin, a Dangote Industries executive. The refinery is expected to eventually receive about 650,000 bpd of crude via pipelines from Niger Delta oil fields, Bloomberg reported.

Between October 2025 and mid-March 2026, records show the refinery received 29.21 million barrels of crude, significantly below the estimated 108.74 million barrels required for full-capacity operation during that period. This shortfall highlights earlier under-supply issues that have since improved with increased local crude sourcing. Company statements link the move to higher Nigerian crude runs with efforts to stabilize domestic fuel supply, reduce imports, and support local upstream producers through long-term crude offtake agreements.

In addition to gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, the refinery produces liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which it has begun exporting to West African markets as of early 2026. Industry sources confirm that surplus LPG beyond Nigerian domestic needs is being shipped from the refinery’s Lekki port complex to neighboring countries in the Gulf of Guinea region. While detailed data on initial cargo volumes and specific buyers have not been publicly disclosed, multiple reports identify West and Central Africa as key destinations for these exports. The refinery’s LPG output is expected to help address persistent supply gaps in the region’s cooking gas market.

Analysts cited by Chemical & Engineering News note that increased LPG production from the Dangote refinery could significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports, improving supply reliability and potentially stabilizing prices. Nigeria has historically imported substantial volumes of LPG, and the refinery’s output, estimated at tens of millions of liters per day for gasoline and diesel at full throughput, is seen as a major step toward import substitution. Officials emphasize that sustained high crude runs and product output at Dangote will reshape Nigeria’s downstream fuel market, anchoring supply more firmly in domestic production.

The refinery’s scale and planned expansion position it as a major regional fuel hub. Dangote Group plans to add a second crude processing unit by the end of 2028, which would double capacity to about 1.4 million bpd, making the complex one of the largest refining sites globally. This expansion is intended to meet rising fuel demand across West Africa and reduce regional reliance on imports from Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, according to industry analysts. The refinery’s location with deep-water port access at Lekki facilitates large-volume exports by ship along the West African coast.

The Dangote refinery represents a significant industrial investment, with reported costs exceeding $19 billion. Nigerian policymakers and business leaders view the facility as central to national energy and economic strategy, aiming to capture more value from crude oil by refining domestically rather than exporting crude and importing refined products. Higher Nigerian crude runs at the refinery are expected to provide stable demand for local upstream producers, potentially boosting government revenues through royalties and taxes. The project also aims to reduce foreign exchange outflows linked to fuel imports and strengthen the Nigerian naira.

Challenges remain, including ensuring consistent crude supply, supportive regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure for product evacuation. These factors will influence how quickly the refinery’s crude runs and LPG exports translate into sustained economic benefits. The refinery’s CDU and MS block have completed initial performance tests, with additional units scheduled to begin testing in a second phase, according to Dangote Petroleum Refinery statements. The company’s ongoing ramp-up and expansion plans are closely watched as indicators of Nigeria’s evolving role in regional refining and fuel supply.