Dangote Petroleum Refinery has debunked a report circulating in sections of the media claiming that the refinery is shutting down due to maintenance issues.
In a statement released on Monday, the refinery management described the reports as “false and misleading” and accused fuel importers of deliberately sponsoring such fabrication because they felt their commercial interests were threatened by the impact of large-scale domestic refining championed by the refinery.
It said the 650,000 barrels per day facility is not shutting down, reaffirming that it continues to operate at scale and currently supplies between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily.
It disclosed that the refinery’s current stock can cover 20 days of national consumption.
“The refinery is not shutting down. Production remains ongoing, stable, and uninterrupted. Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to operate at scale and retains the capacity to supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily through January and February, subject solely to market demand,” it stated.
“On January 4, the refinery produced 50 million litres of PMS and evacuated 48 million litres via its gantry. Current stock levels cover over 20 days of national consumption, effectively dispelling any concerns about supply.”
Commenting on the impact of scheduled maintenance, the company clarified that “due to the sophistication and integrated design of its processing units, routine maintenance on specific units, including the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC), does not interrupt overall production.”
It maintained that even during routine maintenance, the refinery continues to produce PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), and Jet A-1 through the operation of other critical units, including but not limited to the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker, which remain fully operational.
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It stated that it had consistently maintained an adequate supply of PMS to the domestic market, adding that from December 16, 2025, to date, between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS have been loaded daily from its gantry in line with prevailing market demand.
The refinery further affirmed that it continues to maintain an ex-gantry price of N699 per litre for PMS for all marketers and bulk consumers.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, therefore, called on filling station owners, large-scale users, and institutional consumers to patronise what it described as “locally refined, high-quality petroleum products” instead of relying on imported alternatives that are often more expensive and have no guaranteed quality.
It emphasised that buying PMS locally at N699 per litre enables marketers to pass on the price relief to consumers, enhance market stability, conserve foreign exchange, and support Nigeria’s broader economic recovery and energy security objectives.
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It said: “The false report in question is, thereby, a deliberate fabrication promoted by fuel importers whose commercial interests are threatened by the stabilising impact of large-scale domestic refining. This misinformation has been opportunistically deployed by fuel importers to justify recent and unwarranted increases in petrol pump prices.”
The company warned that such conduct is against the national interest and unleashes unnecessary hardship on Nigerians, especially at a time when domestic refining has significantly improved supply availability and moderated prices.
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It noted that the recent price movement reveals that in the absence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, fuel importers would, without restraint, jack up petrol prices estimated at up to N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment. “The refinery’s operations have therefore served as a critical stabilising force in the downstream petroleum market,” it asserted.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring steady supply, price moderation, and long-term energy security through sustained local refining.
The refinery clarified that, in line with global industry standards, it does not comment on internal maintenance schedules, stressing that they are done in accordance with international best practices and do not disrupt supply to the domestic market.
It urged stakeholders and members of the public to disregard false reports and rely on verified information from credible sources while remaining vigilant against price manipulation.
The refinery expressed commitment to acting in the national interest by supplying high-quality, locally refined petroleum products while supporting Nigeria’s economic stability, energy independence, and industrial growth.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
