Dangote Refinery Achieves Milestone as First in the World to Reach 650,000 bpd Capacity

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has achieved a remarkable feat, making history as the first refinery worldwide to sustain an impressive capacity of 650,000 barrels per day on its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) Block.

Following a planned maintenance exercise, the facility announced that both units are now functioning at peak performance, an accomplishment it describes as groundbreaking within global refining practices.

In line with the post-maintenance protocol, the refinery initiated an extensive 72-hour performance test run in partnership with its licensor, UOP, to assess operational efficiency and ensure compliance with international standards across all critical metrics.

David Bird, the Chief Executive Officer, stated that this milestone reflects the robust design and operational capabilities of the refinery.

"Our teams have exhibited remarkable skill and precision in stabilizing both the CDU and MS Block. This achievement highlights the strength, reliability, and engineering excellence that characterize our operations. We are committed to delivering high-quality refined products that will significantly impact Nigeria's energy sector," he remarked.

Bird confirmed that the CDU and MS Block, which comprise components such as the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerization unit, and reformer unit, are now consistently operating at their full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.

He further noted that performance tests for additional processing units are set to begin in Phase 2, which is planned for the coming week.

During the recent festive season, the refinery successfully supplied between 45 and 50 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) each day. With the CDU and MS Block now fully optimized, the refinery is well-prepared to provide up to 75 million liters of PMS to meet domestic market demands.

This landmark achievement is a significant step in Nigeria's efforts toward energy self-reliance, reducing import dependency, and positioning itself as a net exporter of refined petroleum products.