A file photo of Dangote Refinery

The Dangote Refinery has announced plans to expand its production capacity from 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.4 million bpd, a move that will make it the largest refinery in the world, surpassing India’s Jamnagar Refinery.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Sunday, the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said the expansion reflects confidence in Nigeria’s economic potential and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of positioning the country as a global supplier of refined petroleum products.

“We are more than doubling the barrels… to 1.4 million from 650,000. This will make it the largest refinery in the world,” Dangote stated.
“This expansion is about confidence in Nigeria, in Africa, and in our capacity to shape our own energy future,” he added.

Dangote commended the Federal Government for creating a supportive policy environment that encourages private investment in local refining. He specifically lauded policies such as Nigeria’s First Policy, the Naira-for-Crude Policy, and the One-Stop Shop Initiative, describing them as instrumental in driving industrial growth.

He also revealed that recent disruptions at the refinery caused by union activities and sabotage attempts were swiftly resolved through government mediation.

The billionaire industrialist noted that the expansion project would generate about 65,000 jobs during its construction phase and open up new opportunities for local industries.

In addition to refining crude oil, the upgraded facility will significantly boost polypropylene production from 900,000 metric tonnes to 2.4 million metric tonnes per annum, alongside the production of base oils and linear alkylbenzene, an essential raw material for detergent manufacturing.

Dangote further explained that the refinery’s expansion will enable the production of Euro VI-standard fuels, which meet the highest global environmental and emission standards, while also increasing power generation capacity to ensure operational self-sufficiency.

“Our goal has never been just to refine oil, but to refine opportunities for our people,” he concluded.