Dangote Refinery Boosts PMS Supply to 40.1 Million Litres Daily–NMDPRA
SAMUEL MOBOLAJI
Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply received a major lift in January 2026 as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery delivered an average of 40.1 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per day, according to figures released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The output represents an increase of about 8 million litres per day compared to the 32 million litres recorded in December 2025, signalling a steady ramp-up in local refining capacity.
The refinery’s contribution comes as it moves closer to its goal of covering a larger share of national fuel demand, while imports continue to complement domestic supply.
NMDPRA data shows that Nigeria’s domestic supply benchmark for PMS stands at 75 million litres per day, with the Dangote Refinery now accounting for more than half of that figure. Average PMS consumption in January stood at 60.2 million litres daily, while imports from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other marketers averaged 24.8 million litres.
Overall, total PMS supply into the domestic market averaged 64.9 million litres per day. The regulator noted that consumption figures are based on volumes trucked out into the domestic market, serving as the key metric for measuring effective fuel distribution.
The refinery’s growing role in meeting national demand follows its phased ramp-up since commissioning. Located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, the 650,000 barrels-per-day single-train facility is the largest of its kind in the world. Management has optimised its Crude Distillation Unit and Motor Spirit production block, stabilising steady-state operations, while a 72-hour performance test run is underway with technology licensor UOP to validate efficiency and compliance with global standards.
In December 2025, the refinery projected it could supply up to 50 million litres of PMS daily between December and January. The latest figures confirm progress toward that target and underline its importance in strengthening Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and reducing dependence on imports.
Prominent investor Femi Otedola recently projected that the naira could strengthen to below N1,000 per dollar before year-end, citing reduced import demand and the refinery’s operational milestone.
NMDPRA earlier reported that Nigeria’s daily petrol consumption surged to 63.7 million litres in December 2025, underscoring the refinery’s role in stabilising supply and easing pressure on foreign exchange demand.
