700,000-bpd plant processes 736,470 barrels daily as petrol and diesel imports decline

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery operated at 105.21 per cent of its 700,000-barrels-per-day nameplate capacity in August 2026, processing an average 736,470 barrels of crude daily, according to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The August throughput was a sharp increase from 497,000 barrels per day in July, when refinery utilisation stood at 71 per cent.

The performance coincided with a 16.75 per cent rise in domestic crude deliveries to the refinery, which averaged 683,000 barrels per day during the month.

The higher throughput increased the refinery’s contribution to Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply while supporting a decline in imports of petrol and diesel.

Petrol imports decline

The refinery produced an average 84.43 million litres per day of refined white products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK).

Domestic PMS deliveries from the refinery rose 39 per cent month-on-month to 35.87 million litres per day, accounting for about 71 per cent of total domestic petrol supply.

National PMS imports, meanwhile, fell 26 per cent to 14.60 million litres per day.

The figures highlight the growing share of locally refined petrol in Nigeria’s downstream market and the potential reduction in foreign exchange requirements for importing refined products.

Diesel imports plunge

The refinery’s impact was particularly pronounced in the diesel market.

Domestic AGO deliveries averaged 12.37 million litres per day in August, while national diesel imports fell from 7.90 million litres per day in July to 1.30 million litres per day.

Diesel is widely used by manufacturers, transport operators, agricultural businesses, telecommunications companies and power users, making increased domestic availability significant for the wider economy.

Dangote increases refined-product exports

The refinery also supplied international markets during the month.

Average daily exports in August included 9.73 million litres of PMS, 8.75 million litres of diesel and 21.30 million litres of aviation fuel.

The export volumes strengthen Nigeria’s position as a supplier of refined petroleum products to regional markets and could provide an additional source of foreign exchange earnings.

The development also supports Nigeria’s longer-term effort to move beyond exporting crude oil while importing significant volumes of finished petroleum products.

Crude supply remains critical

The August performance highlights both the growing capacity of Nigeria’s refining sector and the importance of reliable crude supply.

Domestic crude deliveries to the Dangote refinery increased to 683,000 bpd during the month, helping the plant raise throughput significantly above its July level.

Maintaining high utilisation will depend on consistent crude availability, operational reliability, maintenance and commercially viable feedstock arrangements.

The August figures also come as Dangote Group’s refinery continues to attract market attention around its proposed public offering.

For Nigeria’s downstream sector, the latest data signals a growing shift in the supply balance: higher domestic refining, lower dependence on imported petrol and diesel, and increasing exports of refined products.

The key test will be whether the refinery can sustain high utilisation and translate increased production into reliable domestic supply and competitive regional export