The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed reports suggesting its petrol unit could be shut down for months, insisting that operations remain steady.

International news agency Reuters, citing industry tracker IIR Energy, had reported that the refinery’s Residue Fluidised Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU) was forced offline in late August due to a catalyst leak and might remain shut for two to three months. The report further claimed the company was planning a restart attempt later this September.

But the Dangote Group has branded the story as false. Spokesperson Anthony Chiejina described the claims as “fake news,” questioning why the report used tentative language if the shutdown was certain. He stressed that the refinery’s petrol unit is running smoothly and there are no plans to suspend production.

Since it began processing crude in January 2024, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery has reshaped global fuel flows. Nigeria’s gasoline imports from Europe have already dropped from an average of 200,000 barrels per day in 2024 to about 120,000 bpd in the first half of this year. The refinery also reached a new milestone by exporting two gasoline cargoes to the United States, proving its output now meets American standards.

However, sourcing enough crude oil locally remains a challenge. In July, crude deliveries to the facility hit a record 570,000 barrels per day, with American oil accounting for 60 percent—overtaking Nigerian grades for the first time. The refinery also imported Ghana’s Sankofa crude in August, marking its first supply from the neighboring country.

Industry analysts estimate current production at about 445,000 bpd, or 68 percent of the plant’s total capacity, with output expected to stay near this level until a scheduled maintenance period later in the year.

Despite the supply hurdles, Dangote aims to expand capacity to 700,000 barrels per day by December 2025, cementing its position as one of the most influential players in the global oil market.