Dangote Refinery Imports 1.46bn Litres of Blendstock – NMDPRA
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has disclosed that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery imported about 1.46 billion litres of gasoline blendstock between January and May 2026 to sustain high petrol output.
Industry data showed the refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, supplemented crude oil processing with imported intermediates, enabling daily production of 44.7 million litres of petrol and achieving 101.25% capacity utilisation in May.
Gasoline blendstock refers to unfinished petroleum streams such as reformate, alkylate, and naphtha, which are blended with crude-derived products to meet quality and environmental standards for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The refinery imported 658.3m litres in January, 306.9m litres in February, 102.4m litres in March, 147.4m litres in April, and 240.6m litres in May. After three months of decline, imports rose again in April and May, coinciding with stronger operational performance.
Despite receiving 17.9m barrels of crude in May, below the 20.15m barrels needed for full capacity, the refinery still reported utilisation above 100%, underscoring the role of imported intermediates in boosting output.
The refinery also produced 24.5m litres of diesel daily (18.2m litres supplied locally, 6.5m litres exported) and 21.9m litres of aviation fuel daily (2.8m litres supplied locally, 17.5m litres exported).
Energy expert Prof. Dayo Ayoade explained: “Gasoline feedstocks are unfinished petroleum streams… blended eventually to meet regulatory standards of Premium Motor Spirit. This is common practice worldwide. It is not cheating.” He noted that while blendstocks improve quality and flexibility, reliance on imports raises foreign exchange concerns.
With state-owned refineries still shut down, Dangote Refinery remains Nigeria’s dominant supplier of locally refined fuel. Analysts say imported blendstocks are helping it stabilise operations, but warn of the economic implications of continued dependence on foreign feedstocks.