LAGOS, April 6 – Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery is scaling up exports of gasoline and urea to African markets as supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict reshape regional fuel flows.
Speaking during a facility tour in Lagos, Aliko Dangote said the refinery, operating at its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is helping to cushion the impact of supply shocks across West, Central and East Africa.
The facility, the largest refinery on the continent, is increasingly positioning itself as a regional supply hub at a time when global energy markets are under strain. Dangote said the plant has the capacity to meet demand across multiple African regions, reinforcing its role in stabilising fuel availability.
Beyond refined fuel, the refinery’s petrochemical operations are also contributing to export growth. With an annual production capacity of up to 3 million metric tons of urea, the complex supplies fertiliser to international markets, including the United States and South America.
Despite the ramp-up in output, domestic fuel prices in Nigeria have continued to climb, reflecting the broader impact of elevated global crude prices. Increased refinery production has yet to fully offset these pressures.
Dangote said the company is seeking to secure more crude oil supplies priced in local currency, a move aimed at reducing exposure to foreign exchange volatility and easing cost pressures in the domestic market.
Supply dynamics are also shifting upstream. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company has increased crude allocations to the refinery, with shipments rising in recent months as the plant operates at peak capacity.
As global supply chains adjust to geopolitical disruptions, the Dangote refinery is emerging as a critical node in Africa’s energy ecosystem, strengthening regional trade flows and reducing reliance on imported refined products.
