The Dangote Petroleum Refinery emerged as the world's largest single exporter of aviation fuel in April, capitalising on supply disruptions from Middle East conflict. The 650,000 barrels per day facility, which hit full capacity in February, has now set its sights even higher with plans to spend $10 billion expanding to 1.4 million barrels daily.
David Bird, the refinery's chief executive, said the expansion would cement Dangote's position as a major global refining hub and deepen Nigeria's role in international petroleum products trade. Bird, who left Oman's Duqm refinery to join Dangote in 2025, described the facility as a merchant refinery model comparable to operations in Europe or Asia, not a traditional crude-pipeline operation.
When the Middle East war began, Dangote shifted into what Bird called "max jet mode," ramping up aviation fuel production to fill global supply gaps. The refinery responded within weeks of reaching full capacity, demonstrating the agility that has made it the world's single largest aviation fuel exporter. The company is now producing 200 per cent of its petrol potential by importing blending components like GTL naphtha and Bonny condensate, reaching 75 million litres daily from its 650,000 barrel capacity.
The expansion will require significant diversification of crude sources. Currently, the refinery can process 40 different types of crude, but Bird wants to increase that to over 100, closer to the 130 types handled at Singapore's Pulau Bukom refinery where he worked between 2012 and 2015. The facility has relied on US WTI Midland crude to supplement Nigeria's inadequate local supply, a challenge Bird attributed to poor terminal reliability.
At full 1.4 million barrel capacity, the refinery would handle roughly 90 per cent of Nigeria's oil output, forcing it to source crudes from the Middle East, United States, and other producing regions. Bird said Dangote would become active in crude blending, potentially processing 30 per cent Middle Eastern grades on each processing train. This flexibility allows the refinery to handle heavier crude grades and residues that it currently cannot process.
The expansion will also include supporting projects: a new linear alkylbenzene plant, a diesel hydrotreater, and a 750,000 metric tonne annual propane dehydrogenation plant that will convert imported liquefied petroleum gas into polypropylene. These additions will further strengthen the refinery's position as a fully integrated facility capable of competing with major global refineries. Dangote founder Aliko Dangote previously indicated interest in crude sources from the United Arab Emirates and potentially Russia should sanctions be lifted.
The refinery will begin executing the $10 billion expansion project immediately, with detailed plans for feedstock diversification and infrastructure upgrades already underway.
