The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has unveiled plans to significantly expand its operations, aiming to more than double its capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million within the next three years. According to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, David Bird, the expansion will utilize a “roofless replication” model, duplicating existing infrastructure to expedite delivery without altering core engineering designs.
Bird, who disclosed this during an interactive media session in Lagos, expressed confidence that the expansion would be completed within the stipulated timeframe, citing extensive preparatory work already undertaken at the Lekki site. He noted that procurement of long-lead items would commence immediately, with completion targeted for the first quarter of 2026. Site preparation and piling works are expected to begin before the end of January 2026.
The refinery’s expansion is expected to prioritize local capacity development by upskilling Nigerian workers and deepening domestic technical expertise. The facility currently imports 100% of its crude feedstock by sea, enabling it to process diverse crude grades and guarantee security of supply. Advanced conversion units enable the production of high-quality fuels meeting market specifications, with the refinery consistently delivering products safely and reliably, even during planned maintenance.
Despite not operating at full capacity, the refinery supplied over 50 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit daily throughout the festive season. Current PMS production stands at between 50 and 52 million liters daily, with average truck-out volumes of about 50 million liters. Discussions are ongoing with NNPC Ltd. to increase crude supply under the naira-for-crude policy, with Bird urging stronger implementation by government and regulators to boost domestic refining, stabilize fuel prices, and ease operational pressures.
The expansion plans come as the refinery, led by Bird, who assumed office in July 2025, scales operations and consolidates its role in Africa’s energy landscape. With over 17 years of global experience in senior roles across Australia, Singapore, and the United States, Bird’s expertise positions him strongly to lead the refinery, seen as central to Nigeria’s industrial revival and energy security goals. The successful completion of the expansion project is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s energy sector, reinforcing the country’s position as a major player in the global energy market.
