Victor EzejaThe Dangote Petroleum Refinery has denied rumours of a shutdown, affirming that it remains fully operational and continues to supply significant volumes of fuel daily.
The refinery’s management, through a statement signed by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, categorically refuted claims of any production halt or suspension of truck loading activities.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSome reports had claimed that the 650,000 barrels per day refinery shutdown operations last week.
However, the refinery stated that it is operating without interruption, adding that it supplies over 40 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS, or petrol) and 15 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO, or diesel) daily.
“The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is fully operational. There has been no shutdown, nor has there been any suspension of truck loading activities,” part of the statement reads.
On refinery maintenance, the company said that as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery, it employs what it called “advanced predictive and preventive maintenance protocols” to ensure uninterrupted operations.
“Routine maintenance activities are standard and do not impact the overall fuel supply,” it further stated.
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The company accused “unscrupulous and unpatriotic individuals” of spreading misinformation to undermine Nigeria’s energy independence, possibly to justify importing substandard fuels.
While dismissing claims of supply shortages, the refinery challenged critics to place orders for 90 days of fuel deliveries (40 million litres PMS per day and 15 million litres AGO per day) to prove its supply capacity.
Regarding the intermittent sales of residual catalytic oil (RCO), the refinery explained that they are a normal part of business operations, frequently involving large-scale tenders, and are not a sign of operational problems.
Fuel Pricing
The ex-depot price of PMS is now N850 per litre, reflecting a N30 increase from N820 sold last month.
The refinery, however, assured that routine maintenance does not affect pricing or supply.
The rumours of shutdown and gantry price hike had raised concerns of scarcity and surge in cost of fuel as Dangote refinery, since coming on streaming last year, has remained a dominant player in the downstream petroleum market.
With a 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity, the refinery, which began producing petrol in September 2024, aims to end Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
