Ghana has confirmed plans to import petroleum products from Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery, acknowledging that its domestic refining capacity is too limited to meet national fuel demand.
The move is expected to strengthen energy trade within West Africa, with Ghana positioning itself as a major buyer of refined fuel from Africa’s largest refinery, located in Lagos.
Speaking at the Nigerian International Energy Summit in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, said the country’s refineries are small when compared to Nigeria’s refining scale.
He explained that while Ghana operates two major refineries and a small modular facility producing about 5,000 to 6,000 barrels per day, this output remains inadequate for the country’s energy needs.
Tameklo noted that Ghana has historically depended on imported crude oil and refined petroleum products, making Dangote Refinery a natural supply partner. With a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery has the ability to supply both Nigeria’s domestic market and neighboring countries.
Ghana currently produces crude oil offshore from the Jubilee and TEN fields, but refining limitations have forced the country to rely heavily on imports. In 2025 alone, Dangote Refinery supplied Ghana with an estimated 27,000 barrels per day of refined fuel.
Although Ghana’s Tema Oil Refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 45,000 barrels per day, resumed operations in late 2025 after years of inactivity, it is currently processing well below full capacity. Smaller private refineries in the country also operate at minimal levels, leaving a significant supply gap.
According to Tameklo, discussions are already underway between Ghanaian authorities and Dangote Petroleum to build a long-term commercial relationship.
However, he stressed that consistent regulations and stable economic conditions across African countries are crucial for such partnerships to succeed, warning that currency volatility could weaken the benefits of cross-border fuel trade.
On the Nigerian side, Dangote Group’s Vice President for Oil and Gas, Devakumar Edwin, said the refinery is currently operating at about 85% capacity, producing petrol and diesel. He added that Nigeria only requires about half of the refinery’s output, leaving substantial volumes available for export.
Edwin also revealed that the facility recently received crude oil from Ghana’s Sankofa field, highlighting efforts to diversify supply sources. He described the refinery’s operations as a major shift for Nigeria, which has long relied on imported refined fuel.
With daily production now exceeding Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand, the Dangote Refinery is increasingly positioning itself as a key supplier to West African and broader African markets. Ghana, officials say, is expected to remain a steady buyer as regulators focus on securing affordable and reliable fuel for consumers.
