By Emmanuel Olugua
The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, has declared that the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery now has sufficient capacity not only to meet domestic aviation fuel needs but also to become a major supplier to international markets.
Speaking on Tuesday at the S&P Global Energy Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference in London, Bird said the refinery currently has a substantial surplus of jet fuel and is strategically positioned to serve customers across the world.
“We’re very grateful to be seen as a reliable, high-quality and dependable supplier able to land our product competitively all over the world,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
According to Bird, relatively lower demand for jet fuel within Africa compared to other regions has opened up significant export opportunities for the refinery, allowing it to expand its footprint in global energy markets.
His remarks come at a time when international fuel markets are experiencing heightened volatility following tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The geopolitical developments have raised concerns over possible disruptions to energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, contributing to uncertainty in petroleum markets.
Jet fuel has been among the products most affected by the disruptions, with prices remaining elevated across several international markets.
The development is particularly relevant to Nigeria, where airlines have struggled in recent months with rising Jet A1 prices, leading to concerns about the sustainability of operations within the aviation sector.
Major domestic carriers, including Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines and Ibom Air, have repeatedly raised alarm over soaring aviation fuel costs, warning that the situation has placed severe pressure on operations and disrupted flight schedules.
The concerns prompted intervention by the Federal Government after airline operators cautioned that sustained increases in fuel prices could threaten the survival of some airlines.
Despite those efforts, operators continue to report challenges linked to aviation fuel costs, including delays, flight cancellations, and reductions in service frequency.
However, Bird said the changing dynamics in the global energy market have created opportunities for refiners outside the Gulf region, with Dangote Refinery increasingly positioning itself as a key supplier of refined products to international customers.
He disclosed that the refinery is currently operating at full nameplate capacity and is pursuing an aggressive expansion programme designed to significantly increase output over the next few years.
“We will bring 700,000 barrels per day of fully complex refining capacity on stream by the end of 2028,” Bird said, noting that critical long-lead equipment has already been secured while construction contracts are being awarded.
He added that the Dangote Group ultimately plans to expand refining capacity to as much as 2.1 million barrels per day, supported by plans to establish another refinery in East Africa.
According to him, the expansion strategy will strengthen the company’s position as a major player in both global crude oil processing and refined petroleum product markets.
“Nigeria has gone from fuel scarcity to absolute fuel abundance since the Dangote refinery came online,” Bird stated.
Industry data appears to support the refinery’s growing influence in the aviation fuel market.
According to Kpler data cited last month, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported an estimated 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026.
The figures showed that exports rose from approximately 20,000 barrels per day in April 2024 to about 65,000 barrels per day by the end of the year before reaching a peak of roughly 160,000 barrels per day during the review period.
The export growth underscores the refinery’s increasing role in Nigeria’s energy sector and highlights the growing contribution of refined petroleum exports, particularly aviation fuel, as the country seeks to strengthen local refining capacity, expand export earnings and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.