LAGOS, Jan 16 – Dangote Refinery is producing about 50 million litres of premium motor spirit each day, supported by a 24 hour loading system that dispatches more than 1,000 fuel trucks daily, its chief executive said.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer David Bird said the refinery operates around the clock to ensure that production is matched by rapid distribution, helping to stabilise fuel availability across Nigeria and reduce shortages during peak demand periods.
We are able to load over 1,000 trucks every day. It is not just about producing fuel, it is also about moving it out fast enough to reach people,” Bird said.
He added that the refinery operates a flexible processing system capable of producing fuel from crude oil, partially refined feedstock, or blending components, allowing it to adapt to supply conditions.
Looking ahead, Bird said the company plans to expand the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within the next three years. The expansion will be driven by two parallel development initiatives, although he did not disclose further details.
Bird also dismissed claims from some industry players that the refinery’s N739 per litre petrol price distorts competition, saying pricing reflects operational efficiency and market realities.
Beyond fuel, petrochemicals remain a key growth area. Bird said polypropylene production is a major focus, with potential plans to expand into products such as detergents, base oils, lubricants, and cooking gas. These moves are aimed at reducing imports and meeting demand from Nigeria’s growing population.
On crude supply, Bird said about 30 to 40 percent of the refinery’s feedstock currently comes through the crude for naira programme. He added that the company remains in discussions with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the federal government to secure higher crude allocations.
