The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has begun night-time loading operations, marking a major step toward full 24-hour operations at Africa’s largest refinery. The move aims to sustain a daily supply of more than 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) across Nigeria.

The expansion comes as the refinery continues to ramp up production, stabilise logistics, and strengthen fuel security, countering speculation over maintenance and potential supply disruptions. Originally designed for daytime operations, the facility now operates around the clock to ensure that rising output is matched with uninterrupted distribution.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Managing Director David Bird explained that 24-hour loading has become essential to meet market demand and improve turnaround times for product evacuation. He confirmed that the refinery is consistently meeting the 50 million-litre daily requirement in both production and distribution.

“What I’m incredibly proud of is that, in the second half of 2025, while still ramping up our conversion and downstream units, we were able to deliver 50 million litres a day, and at times even over 52 million litres,” Bird said.

He added, “Nighttime loading is already in effect, making it a full 24-hour operation. We’ve celebrated over 50 million litres of offtake daily, with over a thousand trucks moving through our gates and gantries. We continue to learn and improve our logistics and turnaround times.”

Bird emphasised that sustaining high output depends not just on production but also on efficient distribution. “Volumes fluctuate depending on demand and available stocks, and if necessary, we can export. But our primary goal is to demonstrate that we can consistently produce over 50 million litres daily and respond to true domestic demand.”

He also linked stable fuel supply to economic growth, noting that abundant, affordable fuel stimulates market activity. “Stable, clean fuel supply encourages demand and helps drive economic activity,” he said.

Highlighting the refinery’s operational flexibility, Bird noted that output can be maintained even during planned maintenance. “We’ve built flexibility into the system, so individual units can undergo maintenance while still meeting finished product demand,” he said.

Bird described the Dangote refinery as a versatile merchant facility capable of producing petrol through multiple routes, including crude processing, intermediate feedstocks, and blending components. “This is not a single crude plant. It’s a resilient system where finished products can be made from crude, intermediates, or blending components,” he said.

This flexibility allows the refinery to reliably supply the Nigerian market while maintaining export capacity, meeting global standards. “We ensure our fuels meet Euro-5 specifications, allowing us to compete internationally while prioritising domestic supply,” Bird added.

He credited the refinery with transforming Nigeria’s fuel market. “We’ve moved the country from scarcity to abundance, supplying cleaner, Euro V-compliant fuels and ending West Africa’s reliance on substandard products.”

Bird stressed the importance of domestic refining for price stability. “Relying entirely on imports exposes us to global market fluctuations. Local production provides insulation from volatility in both crude and product prices.”

Concluding, Bird reaffirmed the refinery’s commitment to domestic supply, price stability, and economic growth. “We are dedicated to maintaining 24-hour operations to meet local demand, ensure fuel security, and provide a stable supply nationwide,” he said.