Nigeria’s new Dangote refinery is already reshaping the country’s energy landscape, sharply reducing reliance on imported petroleum products while positioning itself to tap into local crude supplies.

According to shipping body BIMCO, Nigeria’s clean petroleum product (CPP) imports dropped by 39% in the first seven months of 2025 compared with the same period last year, falling to around 230,000 barrels per day. This follows a 19% decline recorded in 2024, signaling a major shift driven by the start-up of the massive refinery.

Industry experts say the project, spearheaded by billionaire Aliko Dangote, is meeting a substantial share of domestic demand for refined fuels such as petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel. At the same time, the facility is expected to source more of its crude oil from within Nigeria, a move that could have wider implications for both local and international energy markets.

The $20 billion facility, the largest oil refinery in Africa, has been hailed as a game-changer for Nigeria, a country long dependent on imported refined products despite being one of the world’s top crude exporters. Analysts suggest its growing footprint could reduce foreign shipping demand for fuel imports, while increasing pressure on crude exports as the refinery seeks steady feedstock.

With output ramping up, the Dangote refinery is not only cutting Nigeria’s import bills but also signaling a reordering of trade flows across West Africa’s oil and shipping industries.