Dangote Refinery Dismisses Shutdown Rumours, Sustains 50m Litres PMS Daily Output

Dangote Refinery Dismisses Shutdown Rumours, Sustains 50m Litres PMS Daily Output

....Reaffirms N699 Gantry Price as Marketers Lift Over 48m Litres in One Day

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed claims that it is shutting down operations for maintenance, describing the report as false, misleading, and deliberately calculated to misinform the public.

In a statement issued on Monday, the refinery clarified that its production remains stable, ongoing, and uninterrupted, with 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 statement, the refinery produced 50 million litres of PMS on January 4 and successfully evacuated 48 million litres through its gantry the same day. It added that current stock levels are sufficient to meet over 20 days of national consumption, effectively eliminating any concerns about fuel scarcity.

The refinery explained that while routine maintenance is periodically carried out on certain units, including the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit, such activities do not disrupt overall production due to the refinery’s advanced and integrated operational design.

It noted that other critical processing units—such as the Naphtha Hydrotreater, Continuous Catalytic Regeneration (CCR) Reformer, and Hydrocracker—remain fully operational, producing PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), and Jet A-1 fuel without interruption.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently ensured adequate PMS supply for the domestic market. From December 16, 2025, to date, between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS have been loaded daily from our gantry in line with market demand,” the statement said.

The refinery stressed that these volumes are verifiable through depot loading records maintained by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as part of its regulatory oversight.

Dangote Refinery also reaffirmed its ex-gantry price of N699 per litre for PMS, stating that the price is available to all marketers and bulk consumers nationwide. It urged filling stations, institutional buyers, and large-scale users to prioritise locally refined petroleum products, which it described as more affordable, reliable, and of superior quality compared to imported fuel.

“By sourcing PMS locally at N699 per litre, marketers can pass on price relief to consumers, enhance market stability, conserve foreign exchange, and support Nigeria’s economic recovery and energy security,” the refinery stated.

The company accused fuel importers of spreading false reports to justify recent, unjustified increases in pump prices, warning that such actions undermine national interest and impose avoidable hardship on Nigerians.

It noted that without domestic refining capacity, petrol prices could rise as high as N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment, stressing that the Dangote Refinery has played a critical stabilising role in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market.

“Recent price movements expose an uncomfortable reality. In the absence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, fuel importers would operate without restraint, with petrol prices potentially escalating to about N1,400 per litre. Our operations have therefore become a key stabilising force in the sector,” the statement added.

Reaffirming its commitment to national energy security, the refinery pledged to maintain steady supply of high-quality petroleum products while supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and industrial development.

It advised stakeholders and the general public to disregard misinformation and rely only on verified and credible sources for accurate information.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery will continue to act in the national interest by supplying locally refined petroleum products that support Nigeria’s energy independence, economic stability, and long-term industrial growth,” the statement concluded.