Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand the Dangote Refinery from its current capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.4 million barrels per day (mbpd), a move that will make it the largest refinery in the world.
Dangote revealed the plan in an exclusive interview with S&P Global, saying the new phase of expansion will cement Nigeria’s position as a global energy hub and reduce Africa’s dependence on imported fuel.
Key Highlights:
● Dangote Refinery to expand from 650,000 bpd to 1.4 million bpd, surpassing India’s Jamnagar Refinery (1.36 mbpd).
● Middle Eastern investors are in talks to fund the project.
● The refinery already makes Nigeria a net exporter of diesel and jet fuel.
● Expansion will create thousands of new jobs and boost Africa’s refining capacity.
● Dangote also revealed truck drivers at the refinery earn between ₦210,000 and ₦280,000 monthly, higher than many graduates.
Dangote’s Bold Vision for Africa’s Energy Independence:
The Dangote Group Chairman said the refinery’s expansion aligns with his lifelong goal of making Africa self-sufficient in refined petroleum products. He explained that rebuilding or relocating the facility elsewhere would cost far more, noting that existing infrastructure at Lekki, Lagos, gives the project a strong base for rapid growth.
“We have to build the refinery again, either here or somewhere else. But really, somewhere else is not possible because we’d have to go and spend so much building infrastructure, and we already have the infrastructure here,” Dangote said.
Industry analysts at S&P Global confirmed that the planned expansion would outpace the Jamnagar Refinery in India, currently the world’s largest with a capacity of 1.36 million bpd.
Expansion Plans and New Petrochemical Projects:
Reports from engineers at the Lekki complex show that the site was designed with room for future expansion. The next phase could involve building a second refining system and adding a vacuum distillation unit to improve fuel output and product yield.
The company is also exploring new petrochemical projects, including linear alkylbenzene and base oil plants, and plans to increase its polypropylene capacity from one million to 1.5 million metric tonnes in the coming years.
To support the massive expansion, Dangote is negotiating strategic partnerships with Middle Eastern investors and hinted that the refinery’s ownership structure will shift from 100% Dangote-owned to a shared partnership model.
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Economic Impact and Global Recognition:
The Dangote Refinery has already transformed Nigeria into a net exporter of diesel and jet fuel, while supplying large volumes of petrol to West African markets. Economists say the refinery’s full-scale expansion could save Nigeria billions of dollars in fuel imports, strengthen the naira, and make Lagos a global refining hub.
Meanwhile, the billionaire industrialist emphasized the need for large-scale private investments in Africa’s energy infrastructure, warning that small refinery projects would not meet the continent’s growing demand.
“Without huge private investments, Africa will continue to depend on imported fuel. Governments alone cannot build refineries of this scale,” Dangote said.
Refinery Jobs and Worker Welfare:
In a related update, Dangote disclosed that truck drivers at his refinery earn between ₦210,000 and ₦280,000 monthly, three to four times higher than Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000. Drivers with five years of accident-free records are also eligible for housing loans, a move he said would “reward loyalty and promote safety.”
Nigeria Set to Host the World’s Largest Refinery:
With this expansion, Nigeria is on track to host the world’s largest single-train refinery, placing the country at the center of global energy discussions. Dangote said the refinery will soon list 5–10% of its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, giving the public an opportunity to invest in Africa’s biggest industrial success story.
