The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has begun loading petrol around the clock, including at night, in a move aimed at ensuring Nigeria consistently receives over 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. This marks a major shift toward full 24-hour operations at Africa’s largest refinery.

Speaking on Wednesday, Managing Director David Bird said the change was necessary to meet growing market demand and improve the speed of product distribution. “We are now operating 24 hours, including nighttime loading, to make sure petrol reaches the market without interruption,” he said.

Bird explained that the refinery has already been delivering more than 50 million litres a day, sometimes exceeding 52 million litres, even while some units were still ramping up production. He highlighted the facility’s flexibility, which allows maintenance to take place without reducing output.

“The refinery is designed to be resilient. We can take individual units offline for maintenance and still meet finished product demand,” Bird said.
He also emphasized that the refinery can produce petrol in multiple ways from crude oil, intermediate feedstocks, or blending components allowing it to supply Nigeria reliably while keeping the option to export.

Increasing domestic production, Bird said, helps stabilize fuel prices and supports economic activity. “Having local production reduces our dependence on imports and shields the market from global price swings. Stable, affordable fuel encourages growth,” he explained.

The refinery is also producing Euro V-compliant fuels, which are cleaner and higher quality, helping Nigeria move away from substandard petroleum products.

Bird concluded that the refinery’s focus remains on meeting domestic demand while maintaining export capability. “Our priority is 24-hour operations to ensure fuel security, stabilize prices, and support economic activity across the country,” he said.