L-R: President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited Aliko Dangote; Vice President, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin; Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations, Dangote Industries Limited, Fatima Aliko Dangote; Executive Director, Operations, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, Mariya Aliko Dangote during the World Press Conference on the expansion of Dangote Petroleum Refinery to 1.4m bpd capacity in Lagos on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
- Three-Year Project To Be Funded Through Cash Flow, Public Listing, and Strategic Investors
In a bold move that could redefine Africa’s place in global energy markets, Dangote Industries Limited has announced plans to expand its flagship petroleum refinery from 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to an extraordinary 1.4 million bpd; a development that will make it the largest refining complex in the world.
The announcement, made by the company’s President, Aliko Dangote, at a media briefing in Lagos, signals a massive scale-up of the $20 billion facility, which only recently began operations as the world’s largest single-train refinery.
Dangote said the expansion, slated for completion within three years, is driven by rising regional demand for cleaner fuels, new opportunities across Africa, and Nigeria’s policy shift toward local refining.
“This expansion reflects our confidence in Nigeria’s future, our belief in Africa’s potential, and our commitment to building energy independence for our continent,” Dangote declared. “With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s strong policy backing, we are determined to make Nigeria a major global supplier of refined petroleum products.”
When completed, the expanded plant will surpass India’s Jamnagar Refinery, currently the world’s largest, and place Nigeria at the center of global fuel supply chains.
Dangote said the project will be financed through a combination of operational cash flow, public listing, and strategic investors, ensuring a robust and sustainable funding model.
Beyond its global significance, the expansion marks a major step toward achieving energy security for Africa, enabling the continent to move from exporting crude oil to refining and distributing finished products across regional markets.
Dangote also reassured Nigerians that the refinery remains committed to steady petrol supply during the upcoming festive season, despite volatility in global oil prices. “For the first time in many years, Nigerians can look forward to a Christmas and New Year free of fuel anxiety,” he said.
The industrialist praised the Federal Government, Lagos State Government, and the Lekki host community, alongside financial and technical partners, for their support throughout the refinery’s development.
“This project is not just about capacity; it’s about confidence — in our people, in our government, and in our continent,” Dangote said. “Together, we are redefining what is possible for Africa.”
He called on other licence holders in the refining sector to accelerate their projects, urging collaboration in realizing President Tinubu’s goal of making Nigeria the refining hub of Africa.
“When Africa builds its own capacity,” he concluded, “it builds its own destiny.”
