The Dangote refinery has announced that it is now operating at its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd).
In a statement released on Wednesday, the company said it achieved maximum output after successfully restoring and optimising its crude distillation unit (CDU) and motor spirit (MS) production block following scheduled maintenance. The refinery described itself as the “first refinery in the world to attain this feat”.
On January 5, the company disclosed that its crude distillation unit (CDU) and residual fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) units were undergoing routine maintenance. It has now confirmed that the units are functioning at peak performance, reinforcing stable operations at “Africa’s largest oil refining facility”.
“Following a scheduled maintenance exercise on the CDU and MS Block, the refinery has commenced an intensive 72-hour series of performance test runs in collaboration with licensor UOP,” the statement reads.
According to the company, the tests are intended to assess efficiency levels and ensure that all critical benchmarks align with international standards.
“During the recent festive period, the refinery supplied between 45–50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With the CDU and MS Block now fully restored, the refinery is positioned to comfortably deliver up to 75 million litres of PMS to the domestic market as required,” the plant said.
David Bird, chief executive officer (CEO) of Dangote refinery, said the smooth integration and output of the restored units reflect the facility’s advanced design and operational strength.
“Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision and expertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to see them functioning at optimal efficiency,” he said.
“This performance testing phase enables us to validate the entire plant under real operating conditions. We are confident that the refinery remains firmly on track to deliver consistent, world-class output.
“This milestone underscores the strength, reliability, and engineering quality that define our operations.”
Bird stated that the refinery remains focused on producing premium refined products to reshape Nigeria’s energy sector, reduce reliance on imports, and establish the country as a net exporter of petroleum products.
He added that the CDU and MS block — which include the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit, and reformer unit — are currently operating steadily at their full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Bird further disclosed that all other processing units “will begin their respective performance test runs in Phase 2, scheduled to commence next week”.
He expressed appreciation to customers and Nigerians nationwide, reiterating the refinery’s commitment to enhancing energy security, driving industrial development, creating jobs, and supporting economic diversification.