By ebosele@hotmail.com
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed reports suggesting it is shutting down for maintenance, describing the claims as false, misleading, and deliberately aimed at creating panic in the downstream petroleum market.
In a statement issued on Monday, the refinery clarified that its operations remain stable, uninterrupted, and fully capable of meeting domestic fuel demand.
It stressed that it currently has the capacity to supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily through January and February, subject only to market demand.
According to the refinery, production on January 4 stood at 50 million litres of PMS, with 48 million litres successfully evacuated through its gantry. It added that existing stock levels are sufficient to cover more than 20 days of national consumption, effectively dispelling fears of any imminent supply disruption.
The company explained that routine maintenance activities on specific units, including the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit, do not affect overall production due to the refinery’s advanced and integrated design. It noted that other key processing units such as the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker remain fully operational, producing PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), and Jet A-1.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery confirms that it has consistently maintained adequate PMS availability for the domestic market,” the statement said. It disclosed that from December 16, 2025, to date, the refinery has loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily, in line with prevailing market demand. These figures, it added, are verifiable through depot loading records maintained by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The refinery also reaffirmed its ex-gantry price of N699 per litre for PMS, which it said remains available to all marketers and bulk consumers. It urged filling stations, institutional buyers, and large-scale users to prioritise locally refined products, describing them as more affordable, reliable, and of superior quality compared to imported fuel.
By sourcing PMS locally at N699 per litre, the refinery said marketers would be better positioned to pass on price relief to consumers, enhance market stability, conserve foreign exchange, and support Nigeria’s broader economic recovery and energy security goals.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery further accused some fuel importers of pushing false narratives to justify recent and unwarranted increases in petrol pump prices. It warned that such actions run against national interest and impose unnecessary hardship on Nigerians.
The statement noted that without domestic refining capacity, petrol prices in a post-subsidy environment could climb as high as N1,400 per litre, underscoring the stabilising role the refinery continues to play in the downstream sector.
“Recent price movements further highlight an uncomfortable reality. In the absence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, fuel importers would continue to operate without restraint, with petrol prices potentially escalating to levels estimated at up to N1,400 per litre,” the refinery said.
Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the refinery pledged to continue supplying high-quality petroleum products, ensuring steady availability, and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and energy independence. It advised stakeholders and the general public to disregard misinformation and rely only on verified and credible sources.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery will continue to act in the national interest by supplying high-quality, locally refined petroleum products while supporting Nigeria’s economic stability, energy independence, and industrial growth.”
