Dangote Refinery, NNPC Seal Strategic Partnership to Boost Energy Security, Industrial Growth

Dangote Refinery, NNPC Seal Strategic Partnership to Boost Energy Security, Industrial Growth

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) have formalised a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s energy security and accelerating industrial development.

The renewed alliance was announced during a high-level visit by NNPC’s leadership to the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, where both organisations pledged to deepen collaboration and move beyond past institutional challenges.

President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, described the partnership as a return to the refinery’s original vision of fostering national self-sufficiency and driving Africa’s industrial transformation.

“This was our dream before it became a reality. The partnership between ourselves and NNPC will not only strengthen Nigeria but can anchor the next phase of Africa’s industrial transformation,” Dangote said. “With the new leadership, the sky is the limit. We will cooperate, work together, and make Nigerians proud.”

Dangote disclosed that NNPC Ltd. currently holds a 7.25 per cent equity stake in the refinery on behalf of Nigerians. He noted that expanding collaboration within the existing industrial ecosystem, rather than duplicating assets, would deliver greater value and efficiency.

He also outlined plans to expand the refinery into a fully integrated industrial hub, including the construction of a 400,000-metric-tonne Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) facility — projected to exceed current African production capacity. According to him, future growth in the refining sector lies in high-margin petrochemicals, which generate more value than fuel production alone.

“The refinery is an industrial hub, not just a refinery,” Dangote added. “By prioritising domestic processing over exporting raw materials, we can unlock greater economic value, strengthen foreign exchange earnings, and deepen Nigeria’s industrial base.”

Speaking during the visit, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency and productive collaboration, signalling a departure from what he described as an “unproductive past.”

“The whole idea is to examine where we are, identify additional opportunities, and agree on practical next steps,” Ojulari said. “We have exciting proposals on the table, and we will consolidate them into a joint working framework for review.”

Ojulari commended the operational performance of the refinery, noting that it is currently operating above its 650,000 barrels-per-day nameplate capacity. During the tour, the plant was observed running at 661,000 barrels per day.

“None of us ever thought it would even touch 550,000 barrels per day. What we saw live today was 661,000. These are live parameters, not reports or photographs. This plant is a source of national pride and proof that global technology can help us overcome legacy industrial constraints,” he said.

Both organisations described themselves as “strategically significant national champions” capable of redefining Nigeria’s energy landscape through sustained cooperation.

The parties agreed to identify priority areas of collaboration in the coming weeks and develop a structured implementation framework, a move expected to reshape Nigeria’s energy sector and reinforce its position as a key industrial hub in Africa.