The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has achieved a major operational milestone, by positioning itself as the first ever refinery in the world to operate at its full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) due to effects from the restoration and optimisation of key processing units.
The company announced that its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) production block are now functioning at optimal levels, reinforcing stable operations as Africa’s largest refining complex. The company officially announced attained full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) as of February 11, 2026. After concluding a scheduled maintenance programme on both units, the refinery initiated a 72-hour performance test in partnership with its technology licensor, UOP. The exercise is aimed at confirming operational efficiency and ensuring that all technical parameters align with international standards. Chief Executive Officer of the refinery, Mr. David Bird, said the successful stabilisation of the CDU and MS Block reflects the plant’s strong engineering capacity and operational expertise and noted that the testing phase allows the facility to assess performance under real operating conditions and sustain consistent output. According to him, the CDU and MS Block house essential components such as the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit and reformer, all of which are currently running steadily at full capacity. He added that other processing units will begin their performance tests under Phase Two next week. During the recent festive season, the refinery supplied between 45 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With the restored units, it can now deliver up to 75 million litres per day to the domestic market, subject to demand. The company reaffirmed its commitment to boosting energy security, reducing fuel imports and supporting economic growth.Dangote Refinery Sets Global Record
