The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has achieved what it describes as a historic global milestone, becoming the first refinery in the world to attain and sustain full 650,000 barrels per day capacity on its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) Block.
The company announced that both units are now operating at optimal performance following a scheduled maintenance exercise, marking a major benchmark in global refining operations.
To validate the post-maintenance stability and efficiency of the facility, the refinery commenced an intensive 72-hour performance test run in partnership with its technology licensor, UOP. The exercise is aimed at confirming that all critical operational parameters meet international standards.
Chief Executive Officer, David Bird, described the achievement as a testament to the refinery’s engineering strength and operational expertise.
“Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision and expertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block. This milestone underscores the strength, reliability and engineering quality that define our operations. We remain committed to producing high-quality refined products that will transform Nigeria’s energy landscape,” Bird said.
He confirmed that the CDU and MS Block — comprising the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit and reformer unit — are now running steadily at their full nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
According to Bird, additional processing units are scheduled to begin their respective performance test runs under Phase 2 of the programme, set to commence next week.
The refinery also disclosed that during the recent festive period, it supplied between 45 and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With the CDU and MS Block fully restored and optimised, the facility is now positioned to deliver up to 75 million litres of PMS daily to the domestic market, depending on demand.
The milestone, the company said, reinforces Nigeria’s push toward energy self-sufficiency, reduces reliance on imported refined petroleum products, and strengthens the country’s prospects of becoming a net exporter of refined fuels.
