The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, has announced that the refinery can produce 650,000 barrels of jet fuel daily. He stated that the refinery has a large surplus of jet fuel and is ready to supply it to global markets.
Mr Bird made this announcement on Tuesday at the S&P Global Energy Middle East Petroleum and Gas Conference in London.
"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," Mr Bird said, according to Reuters.
He explained that the lower demand for jet fuel in Africa compared to other regions has opened up export chances for the refinery.
His comments come amid ongoing challenges in global energy markets. These challenges are due to tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, which have raised fears about supply disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has caused fuel prices to fluctuate.
Jet fuel has been one of the products hit hard by these disruptions, with prices staying high in many places.
Mr Bird’s comments also arrive as Nigeria’s aviation industry faces worries over the rising prices of Jet A1 fuel.
In recent months, PREMIUM TIMES has reported on the struggles of local airlines due to soaring aviation fuel prices. The high costs have raised alarms about possible service interruptions and operational issues.
Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and Ibom Air are among the airlines that have complained about the skyrocketing prices of Jet A1 fuel. They say the situation has made it hard to operate and has affected their schedules.
The government stepped in after airline operators warned that continuous increases in aviation fuel prices could threaten the survival of some airlines.
Even with government help, airlines still face operational challenges linked to fuel costs. This includes delays, cancellations, and fewer flights.
On the flip side, the situation has created chances for refiners outside the Gulf region, like Dangote Refinery, to boost exports to international markets.
Mr Bird mentioned that the refinery is running at full capacity and is planning a "ruthless replication" strategy to increase its output.
"We will bring 700,000 barrels per day of fully complex refining capacity on stream by the end of 2028," he said. He added that the necessary equipment has been ordered and that construction contracts are being given out.
He also noted that the company could eventually raise its refining capacity to 2.1 million barrels per day. This will be supported by plans for another refinery in East Africa, making the company a big player in the global crude and refined product markets.
"Nigeria has gone from fuel scarcity to absolute fuel abundance since the Dangote refinery came online," Mr Bird stated.
According to data from Kpler mentioned last month, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026.
The data revealed that exports grew from around 20,000 barrels per day in April 2024 to nearly 65,000 barrels per day by the end of that year. Exports peaked at about 160,000 barrels per day during this period.
These figures show the increasing importance of refined petroleum exports in Nigeria’s energy sector, especially aviation fuel. The country aims to improve its local refining capacity and lessen its reliance on imported products.
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