Dangote Refinery: We Are Not Shutting Down, Petrol Supply Is Steady

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed reports suggesting it is shutting down for maintenance, calling the claims false and misleading.

The refinery says production is ongoing and stable, and that it can supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily through January and February, depending on market demand.

In its update, the refinery stressed that Nigeria is not facing a supply shock from its operations. It said that on January 4, it produced 50 million litres of PMS and evacuated 48 million litres through its gantry, adding that its current stock level covers more than 20 days of national consumption.

Why the Shutdown Story Spread

The refinery’s statement comes at a time when public anxiety around petrol pricing and availability is high. Nigerians have watched pump prices change quickly, while marketers and importers continue to debate supply costs, foreign exchange pressure, and distribution challenges.

Dangote Refinery argues that shutdown rumours can trigger panic buying and hoarding, and create room for price increases that do not reflect real supply conditions.

Maintenance, But Not a Full Stop

Dangote Refinery clarified that routine maintenance is normal in large industrial plants and does not automatically mean operations have stopped.

According to the refinery, maintenance work on specific units, such as the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC), does not interrupt overall production because the plant’s integrated design keeps key outputs running.

It added that other critical units, including the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker, remain operational, producing PMS, diesel (AGO), and Jet A-1.

Daily Loading Figures and What They Mean

To support its claim of steady supply, the refinery said that from December 16, 2025 to date, it has been loading between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, in line with market demand.

It also stated that these volumes can be verified using depot loading records maintained by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The ₦699 Ex-Gantry Price and the Refinery’s Message to Marketers

Dangote Refinery also reaffirmed its ex-gantry price of ₦699 per litre for PMS, saying the price is available to all marketers and bulk buyers.

It encouraged filling stations, large-scale users, and institutional consumers to buy locally refined fuel rather than depend on imports, arguing that local supply is cheaper, more reliable, and of high quality.

The refinery’s position is that cheaper local supply should translate into relief at the pump if marketers choose to pass on the benefit instead of widening margins.

“Without Our Refinery…” The ₦1,400 Warning

The refinery accused some fuel importers of pushing false reports to justify what it described as “unwarranted” increases in petrol pump prices. It warned that without domestic refining, pump prices could rise as high as ₦1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment.

In its view, local refining is now acting as a stabilising force in Nigeria’s fuel market, reducing the impact of imported supply costs and foreign exchange pressure.