Dangote Refinery Firmly Denies Shutdown Claims, Reaffirms Steady Fuel Supply

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has issued a firm rebuttal to recent reports suggesting an impending shutdown for maintenance. In an official statement released on Monday, the refinery labeled these claims as false and misleading, asserting they were deliberately promoted to create panic within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market. The facility insists it continues to operate at full capacity, supplying over 50 million litres of petrol daily to meet national demand.

Production and Supply Figures Remain Uninterrupted

The Lagos-based 650,000 barrels-per-day facility emphasized that its production remains stable and uninterrupted. It reaffirmed its role as a stabilizing force in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, particularly amid recent pump price volatility. The refinery stated it has consistently maintained petrol production levels between 40 million and 50 million litres daily, adjusting only to market demand. Specific data was provided to support this: on January 4, the facility produced 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and evacuated 48 million litres through its gantry. Furthermore, marketers lifted over 48 million litres on the preceding Sunday alone.

Addressing concerns about product availability, the refinery disclosed that from December 16, 2025, to the present, it has loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily. These volumes, it noted, are fully verifiable against depot loading records maintained by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The company also confirmed current stock levels are sufficient to cover more than 20 days of national consumption, effectively dispelling fears of shortages.

Routine Maintenance Does Not Halt Operations

The statement clarified that while routine maintenance is ongoing on specific units, including the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC), these activities have not disrupted overall production. This is due to the integrated design of the facility. Other critical units, such as the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker, remain fully operational, producing PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and Jet A-1 fuel.

The refinery reaffirmed its ex-gantry price of N699 per litre, confirming this pricing remains available to all marketers and bulk consumers. It highlighted the critical importance of domestic refining, suggesting that without it, petrol prices could rise to as much as N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment. The refinery’s operations, therefore, serve as a critical stabilizing force in the downstream petroleum market. As the nation looks ahead, the steady supply from such key infrastructure is vital, just as assessing the relevance traditional institutions hold in maintaining unity becomes important, especially when some politicians fuelling division seek to sway public opinion ahead of crucial timelines. The consistent operation of projects like this bridge the gap in energy security, much like the awaited Opebi-Mende link bridge aims to connect communities. The commitment to factual clarity from the refinery is paramount again, as misinformation can have widespread consequences, a principle that extends to all sectors, including when a court extends its deliberations on matters of national importance.