The Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, has announced that the refinery can produce a lot of jet fuel and is ready to supply it to global markets. This refinery can handle 650,000 barrels of oil per day.
Mr Bird made this known on Tuesday while speaking 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 told reporters.
He explained that lower demand for jet fuel in Africa compared to other places has opened up chances for the refinery to export its products.
His comments come as global energy markets face pressure due to rising tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. This situation has raised fears of supply disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and caused fluctuations in fuel prices.
Jet fuel has been one of the products hit hard by these disruptions, with prices staying high in many markets.
Mr Bird’s statements also arrive at a time when Nigeria’s aviation industry is worried about the increasing cost of Jet A1 fuel.
In recent months, PREMIUM TIMES has reported on the challenges facing Nigerian airlines as aviation fuel prices soared, leading to warnings about possible flight disruptions and operational issues.
Airlines like Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, and Ibom Air have complained about the skyrocketing prices of Jet A1 fuel. They say this situation is making it hard to run their operations and stick to flight schedules.
The government had to step in after airline operators warned that continued increases in aviation fuel costs could endanger the survival of some carriers.
Even with government help, airlines still struggle with issues related to high fuel costs. These include delays, cancellations, and fewer flights.
But this situation has given refiners outside the Gulf region, like Dangote Refinery, a chance to boost exports to international markets.
Mr Bird noted that the refinery is now running at its full capacity and is planning a “ruthless replication” strategy to increase production.
“We will bring 700,000 barrels per day of fully complex refining capacity on stream by the end of 2028,” he shared, adding that they have already bought long-lead equipment and are awarding construction contracts.
He mentioned that the capacity could eventually grow to 2.1 million barrels per day, which will be supported by plans for another refinery in East Africa, making the company a significant player in both 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 Kpler data shared last month, Dangote Petroleum Refinery exported about 57 million barrels of jet fuel between April 2024 and April 2026.
The data showed that exports increased from around 20,000 barrels per day in April 2024 to about 65,000 barrels per day by the end of that year. Exports peaked at roughly 160,000 barrels per day during the review period.
These figures show the growing importance of refined petroleum exports in Nigeria’s energy sector, especially aviation fuel, as the country aims to boost its refining capacity and cut down on imported products.
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