‘First to hit 650,000 bpd globally’ — Dangote refinery says it now operates at full capacity

The Dangote refinery says the plant is now working at fullcapacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd. In a statement on Wednesday, Dangote refinery said operationreached full capacity after the company fully restored and optimised its crudedistillation unit (CDU) and motor spirit (MS) production block following ascheduled maintenance. The refiner said it is the “first refinery in the world toattain this feat”. On January 5, the refinery said its crude distillation unit(CDU) and residual fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) units were undergoingroutine maintenance. The refinery said the units are now running at optimalperformance, further strengthening the steady‐state operations of “Africa’s largest oil refining facility”. “Following a scheduled maintenance exercise on the CDU andMS Block, the refinery has commenced an intensive 72‐hour seriesof performance test runs in collaboration with licensor UOP,” the statement reads. The refinery said these tests are designed to validateoperational efficiency and confirm that all critical parameters meet globalstandards. “During the recent festive period, the refinery suppliedbetween 45–50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With the CDUand MS Block now fully restored, the refinery is positioned to comfortablydeliver up to 75 million litres of PMS to the domestic market as required,” theplant said. Commenting on the development, David Bird, chief executiveofficer (CEO) of Dangote refinery, said the seamless integration and strongperformance of the units highlight the refinery’s advanced engineering andsolid operational capabilities. “Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision andexpertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to seethem functioning at optimal efficiency,” he said. “This performance testing phase enables us to validate theentire plant under real operating conditions. We are confident that therefinery remains firmly on track to deliver consistent, world‐classoutput. “This milestone underscores the strength, reliability, andengineering quality that define our operations.” Bird said the plant remains dedicated to producing high‐qualityrefined products that will transform Nigeria’s energylandscape, eliminate import dependence, and position the nation as a netexporter of petroleum products. Bird added that the CDU and MS block, which comprise thenaphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit, and reformer unit, are now operatingsteadily at their full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd). He said all remaining processing units “will begin theirrespective performance test runs in Phase 2, scheduled to commence next week”. Bird appreciated customers and Nigerians nationwide,reaffirming the refinery’s strong commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energysecurity and promoting industrial growth, job creation, and economicdiversification.

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