Lagos, Nigeria – Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest oil refinery, is set to begin operating at full capacity in the next 30 days, according to the refinery’s executive director, Edwin Devakumar. The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, located in Lagos, started processing crude into diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January 2024, and began producing petrol in September.
The refinery aims to compete with European refiners but has faced challenges securing a steady supply of local crude. Currently operating at 85% capacity, Devakumar stated that it will be able to reach full production within a month.
Despite an agreement with the Nigerian government to purchase crude in local naira, the refinery has struggled to secure adequate volumes and has turned to importing crude oil. For the first half of 2025, Dangote Refinery has requested 550,000 barrels per day from Nigerian oil producers. The country’s oil regulator has warned that it will block export permits for producers who fail to meet their local supply quotas.
In addition to its local market focus, Dangote Refinery is expanding its reach globally, including sending two cargoes of jet fuel to Saudi Aramco.
