Dangote Petroleum Refinery Plc has assured Nigerians that the country has entered a new era of petrol abundance, promising an end to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) scarcity.
The assurance was given by the refinery’s newly appointed Managing Director, David Bird, during a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, following the facility’s seamless supply of fuel over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Bird described the development as a major achievement and highlighted that Nigerians are now consuming world-quality fuels produced to Euro 5 standards. The refinery also exports gasoline to Europe and jet fuel to markets such as Dubai.
He criticised the historical dumping of inferior fuels in West Africa, noting that Dangote Refinery’s output represents a significant public health improvement with lower sulphur and cleaner fuels.
“We have been able to achieve 1,000 trucks daily and 500 million litres a day,” Bird said, adding that stable and lower fuel prices are contributing to economic stability and supporting the naira.
The MD also outlined plans to expand refining capacity and increase polypropylene production to 2.4 million tonnes, a move aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and creating a large industrial ecosystem.
Bird debunked claims that the current petrol price of ₦739 is anti-competitive, insisting that the retail price is fully competitive and that consumers have a choice.
Anthony Chiejina, Head of Communications for Dangote Group, noted that local production insulates Nigeria from global oil price volatility, citing ongoing crises in Venezuela as a factor that underscores the importance of domestic refining.
“Nigeria is now enjoying world-class fuel. We have the capacity, and we must make sure our production matches the European quality,” Bird said, describing the refinery as a flexible merchant refining, blending, and trading platform rather than a conventional single-crude refinery.
On expansion, Bird explained that the refinery aims to replicate its success “ruthlessly,” with steel structures expected to start rising before the end of 2026.
He added that production and off-take have consistently exceeded 50 million litres per day, with the refinery able to export excess volumes if necessary. The site currently operates with about 4,000 trucks, and the final rollout will include a computerised security system to ensure customers receive exact fuel volumes.
Regarding petrochemicals, Bird said the refinery’s polypropylene production is central to its strategy. Current capacity stands at 800,000 tonnes, which will increase to 1.2 million tonnes with an additional PDH unit, eventually reaching 2.4 million tonnes. Future diversification may include detergents, base oils, lubricants, and LPG to meet domestic demand and reduce imports.
On the crude-for-naira programme, Bird said 30–40 per cent of the refinery’s crude supply currently comes from the scheme, which has helped stabilise the naira. He added that discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the government are ongoing to further improve crude allocations.
