In a notable shift for Nigeria's oil industry, the Dangote Refinery has significantly increased its petrol output, leading to a sharp decline in the country's petrol imports. Recent data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) reveals that domestic refineries, including Dangote, processed an average of 683,000 barrels of crude oil daily in August 2026, marking a 16.75% increase from 585,000 barrels per day in July.

The Dangote Refinery alone saw its petrol supply rise by 39%, producing an impressive 35.9 million litres of petrol daily. This surge in local production coincided with a 26% drop in petrol imports, which fell from 19.7 million litres per day in July to 14.6 million litres per day in August. The data indicates a significant shift towards self-sufficiency in petrol supply as Nigeria's reliance on foreign imports diminishes.

The NMDPRA's August 2026 Midstream and Downstream Sector Factsheet highlighted that Nigeria's overall petrol receipts increased to 50.5 million litres per day, up from 45.5 million litres per day in July. The increase in local petrol supply, which accounted for 35.9 million litres of this total, signifies a growing capacity among domestic refineries to meet local demand.

In addition to petrol, the refinery also produced substantial quantities of diesel and aviation fuel. The Dangote Refinery operated at an average capacity utilisation of 105.21%, producing 41.94 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 18.01 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and 24.48 million litres of aviation fuel (ATK) during the month.

Of the petrol produced, 35.87 million litres was supplied to the Nigerian market, while 9.73 million litres were exported. For diesel, domestic receipts reached 12.37 million litres, with exports at 8.75 million litres. The refinery also recorded 3.07 million litres of domestic ATK receipts against 21.30 million litres exported.

The decline in imports was not limited to petrol; diesel imports experienced a dramatic fall from 7.9 million litres per day in July to just 1.3 million litres per day in August. Conversely, imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) saw a slight increase, rising from 0.9 million litres per day in July to 1.3 million litres per day in August.

The latest figures underscore the growing impact of the Dangote Refinery on Nigeria's fuel landscape, as it not only enhances local supply but also reduces the country's dependency on imported petroleum products. This development is a significant step towards achieving energy independence for Nigeria, fostering a more resilient and self-sufficient economy.