Dangote Refinery Propels West Africa into Regional Refining Hub 

West Africa is fast emerging as a regional refining and trading hub, largely driven by Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which produces 650,000 barrels per day (bpd). According to a report by Argus Media, the privately-owned refinery, coupled with government efforts to achieve refined product self-sufficiency, has reshaped fuel markets in the region, sharply reducing reliance on imports and changing trade flows. 

Since petrol production began in September 2024, Nigeria — previously the region’s largest gasoline importer — has seen a dramatic drop in fuel imports. Kpler data cited by Argus Media shows net petrol imports fell to 40,000 bpd in September 2025, down from 332,000 bpd a year earlier. At the same time, Nigeria has strengthened its position as a refined product exporter, with net middle distillate exports hitting a record 145,000 bpd in July 2025, up from 82,000 bpd earlier in the year. 

“Dangote has inarguably transformed regional oil product market dynamics, reducing West Africa’s dependence on imported fuels and reshaping trade flows.” – Argus Media 

Regional Impact on Fuel Imports 

The refinery’s output has cut fuel imports across West Africa: 

• Petrol imports declined by 25% to 337,000 bpd (Mauritania to Angola) 

• Jet fuel imports dropped to 4,000 bpd, the lowest since 2016 

• Diesel imports fell to a five-year low of 162,000 bpd 

Despite scheduled maintenance periods, Dangote’s refinery remains robust and has potential to capture a larger share of Nigeria’s domestic petrol market in 2026. In contrast, state-owned refineries such as Port Harcourt and Warri continue to face operational challenges, with repeated shutdowns highlighting ongoing difficulties in rehabilitating long-idle assets. 

Expanding Refining Capacity in West Africa 

Other countries are also boosting capacity: 

• Angola: 30,000 bpd Cabinda refinery now producing diesel and jet fuel domestically 

• Ghana: Efforts ongoing to revive the 45,000 bpd Tema Oil Refinery, while private refineries operate intermittently 

Large-scale new projects face long timelines, making existing refineries like Dangote and near-complete facilities critical to West Africa’s downstream oil ambition

The Dangote Refinery is central to Nigeria’s and West Africa’s rise as a refining and trading hub, reducing dependence on imports, boosting exports, and transforming the regional energy market. The pace of further change in 2026 will depend largely on refinery performance, with Dangote expected to remain at the forefront of regional oil and gas development.