“We operate on a European and Asian merchant refinery model, featuring a state-of-the-art refining, BLENDING, and trading configuration designed to meet modern quality standards” – CEO
Oredola Adeola
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) has clarified that its facility is designed to blend intermediate feedstocks — including naphtha, straight-run gas oils, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, alkylate and isomerate — into high-quality finished petroleum products and petrochemicals.
The refinery therefore dismissed claims that it imports finished petroleum products, describing them as false and based on a misunderstanding of standard refinery operations.
David Bird, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DPRP, disclosed this during a media briefing on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to him, DPRP is a modern, large-scale merchant refinery with the capacity to refine crude oil and process intermediate feedstocks into high-quality finished petroleum products and petrochemicals.
The CEO explained that explained that it is standard industry practice for refineries to process intermediate or semi-processed materials into finished fuels.
He emphasised that this does not amount to importing finished petroleum products.
He noted that unlike conventional Nigerian refineries, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery operates on a European and Asian merchant refinery model, featuring a state-of-the-art refining, blending, and trading configuration designed to meet modern quality standards.
“DPRP produces high-quality fuels aligned with international environmental and health standards.
“Our gasoline is lead-free and MMT-free, with 50 parts per million sulphur, while our diesel meets ultra-low sulphur standards.
“These specifications help reduce emissions, protect engines, and safeguard public health,” Bird said.
According to him, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery produces only fully refined, market-ready fuels.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery offers high-quality finished products. We will never supply semi-finished products to the market. Semi-finished products should not be used in vehicles,” Bird said, while displaying samples of intermediate feedstocks and finished products to journalists.
He noted that while Nigerians had historically been exposed to substandard fuel, the refinery was established to reverse that trend and deliver fuels that meet the highest international standards.
Bird added that the refinery’s products are now supplied to markets across the world, reflecting their quality and competitiveness.
Intermediate products, he explained, are semi-processed materials derived from crude oil and used as feedstock for further refining into finished fuels such as petrol and diesel, as well as petrochemicals.
These include naphtha, straight-run gas oils, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, alkylate and isomerate.
Bird emphasised that the refinery has remained transparent in its operations and engagements with regulators and urged the media to help educate the public on the distinction between intermediate and finished products.
“It is regrettable that some individuals are deliberately spreading false narratives about a refinery that has transformed Nigeria and the wider West African region from a dumping ground for substandard fuel into a refining hub with access to high-quality products,” he said.
He further noted that the refinery’s design flexibility allows it to process a wide range of crude oils and intermediate feedstocks into premium finished products.
Assuring of product availability to meet domestic demand, Bird said the refinery has played a significant role in easing fuel scarcity, stabilising the naira, and reducing pressure on foreign exchange.
Further checks by Advisors Reports revealed that the claim stemmed from routine maintenance activities currently ongoing, now in their third month since December 2025, affecting specific units including the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit.
Advisors Reports further gathered that while some of the critical units such as the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker remain fully operational, producing PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and Jet A-1.
The refinery has also continued to supply petroleum products using imported intermediate feedstock while maintenance on the CDU and RFCC continues.
An in-house source told Advisors Reports that the CDU, RFCC, RGDU, Isomerisation, Reformer and Naphtha Hydrotreater units were shut in late January after earlier restarting in the first week of the month, with operations halted again between January 26 and 31. Meanwhile, gasoline is currently being supplied from storage.
Bird, however, did not provide updates on the status of the maintenance work or timelines for restarting of the 72,800 bpd RFCC Gasoline Desulfurizer Unit, 1,100 MBs/yr Polypropylene Unit Train-1, and 1,100 MBs/yr Polypropylene Unit Train-2 that have been under maintenance shutdown since December 8, 2025.
Advisors Reports gathered that Dangote is expected to complete the repairs and restart the units tentatively by February 15, 2026.
