KEY POINTS
- Dangote says petrol could reach N1,400 per litre.
- The refinery denies shutdown reports.
- Daily output is up to 50 million litres.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has warned that petrol prices in Nigeria could climb as high as N1,400 per litre if the country returns to relying solely on fuel imports, arguing that domestic refining has become a key stabiliser in the downstream petroleum market.
The refinery issued the warning on Monday while dismissing reports that it was shutting down for maintenance. It described the claims as false and misleading, saying they were being circulated to justify another round of pump price increases.
In a statement, the company said recent price movements exposed a deeper issue in Nigeria’s fuel supply system. Without large-scale domestic refining, it said, fuel importers would face few constraints in a post-subsidy market, allowing pump prices to rise sharply. The refinery said its operations have helped moderate pricing pressures since it began supplying the local market.
Import dependence drives price risks
The refinery said the shutdown report was being pushed by fuel importers whose commercial interests were threatened by local refining capacity. According to the statement, the misinformation was designed to exploit consumers and rationalise higher prices at filling stations.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery said production remains stable and uninterrupted. It added that the facility currently has the capacity to supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit daily, depending on demand.
The company disclosed that on January 4 it produced 50 million litres of petrol and evacuated 48 million litres through its gantry. It said current stock levels are sufficient to cover more than 20 days of national consumption, countering concerns about shortages.
Output remains steady, refinery says
Addressing maintenance concerns, the refinery said routine work on specific processing units does not affect overall output due to the integrated design of the plant. It said units such as the Crude Distillation Unit and Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit can undergo maintenance without disrupting production.
Other units, including the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer and Hydrocracker, remain fully operational and continue to produce petrol, diesel and Jet A-1 for the domestic market, the company said.
The refinery said it has maintained steady petrol supply since mid-December, with daily loading volumes ranging from 31 million to 48 million litres. It added that these figures are verifiable through records held by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
According to Punch, Dangote also reaffirmed its ex-gantry price of N699 per litre for petrol, saying it is available to all marketers and bulk consumers without discrimination. The company urged filling station operators and large users to source fuel locally, arguing that domestic supply helps moderate prices, conserve foreign exchange and support energy security.
The refinery said it would continue to prioritise steady supply and advised the public to disregard false reports, insisting it remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s economic stability and industrial growth.
