The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has rejected reports claiming it plans to shut its petrol unit for up to three months.
Reuters, quoting industry monitor IIR Energy, said the refinery shut its 204,000-barrel-per-day Residue Fluidised Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU) on August 29, after catalyst leaks.
The report further suggested the refinery might need months to replace equipment and complete repairs, even though it planned a restart on September 20.
However, Dangote Group spokesman Anthony Chiejina dismissed the claims and described them as “fake news”.
He challenged the report’s certainty, asking: “Why ‘could’ if they are sure?”
Global Fuel Market Impact
Since January 2024, when the refinery began processing crude, it has reshaped global fuel flows.
As a result, European gasoline exports to Nigeria dropped sharply.
Kpler data show that volumes fell from around 200,000 barrels per day in 2024 to roughly 120,000 barrels per day in the first half of 2025.
Meanwhile, the refinery has expanded its reach beyond Africa.
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It shipped two gasoline cargoes to the United States, which will arrive on the East Coast this month.
Analysts see this as a major milestone because it proves the plant can produce fuel that meets American standards.
Diversified Crude Supply
At the same time, Dangote has diversified its crude sources to overcome local supply challenges.
In August, the refinery imported Ghana’s Sankofa crude for the first time, while US barrels surged to 60% of July’s intake—overtaking Nigerian supply for the first time.
Currently, the refinery runs at about 445,000 barrels per day, equal to 68% of its capacity.
That marks an increase from 60% earlier this year.
Analysts expect throughput to remain steady, though they predict a slight dip during year-end maintenance.
Looking ahead, Dangote aims to raise output to 700,000 barrels per day by December 2025.
