Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery to begin full‑capacity tests in February
- Africa's largest refinery began operations in 2024
- Has been running at 450,000 bpd–485,000 bpd
Nigeria's Dangote Refinery will begin performance test runs at its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd in February after completing planned maintenance, a senior executive said on Wednesday, a key step towards steady year-round operations.
Africa's largest oil refinery began operations in 2024 and has been running at about 450,000 bpd–485,000 bpd during its startup phase amid difficulties securing sufficient local crude as it ramps up to full capacity.
Operating the $20-B refinery at full capacity could cut Nigeria’s fuel import bill, ease pressure on the naira currency by reducing demand for dollars and shift regional fuel flows as West African countries would likely import more from Nigeria.
The country is Africa's biggest oil producer but relies heavily on imports and the Dangote Refinery is meant to change that.
The refinery's Managing Director David Bird said the plant was now entering the phase where it is expected to operate consistently at full capacity throughout 2026.
"We've now completed the maintenance we planned on our critical equipment, and in February we will conduct performance test runs at full capacity," he said. "This is the year we sustain full nameplate capacity."
Bird said the plant is insured at 650,000 bpd but has enough design margin to increase capacity to 700,000 bpd once consistent performance is demonstrated to insurers.
"I don't want it misunderstood – our insurance today is 650,000 barrels per day," he said. "But we think the design can support 700,000, and we will engage the insurance market once we prove that."
He added that it was typical for large greenfield refineries to undergo a ramp‑up period of 18 to 24 months after startup, including an early maintenance break to "iron out all the bugs" before moving into stable commercial operations.
He said the crude distillation unit has been running safely and reliably since January 2024 without interruption.
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