The Dangote Refinery recently responded to the reports making news rounds last week that damage in the plant would force it to shut down its petrol operations.
Anthony Chiejina, the spokesman of the Dangote Group, simply described the reports as “fake.”
Initial reports indicated that there had been catalyst leaks and other problems in the refinery’s gasoline unit, prompting projections of a 2-week closure.
Later on, reports inflated those projections, disclosing that the petrol unit of the refinery could be shut down for as much as 2 months.
However, the Dangote spokesman questioned the credibility of said reports, pointing out the use of language.
“Fake news. Why ‘could’ if they are sure?” Chiejina revealed to The Punch when he was contacted for a reaction on Sunday.
Dangote’s market impact
Since the inauguration of the refinery, Nigeria’s energy dependence has been cut down significantly.
From initially supplying jet fuel and other petroleum products to eventually meeting a huge chunk of Nigeria’s energy needs through the domestic supply of petrol, the Dangote refinery has been revolutionary for West Africa’s largest market.
Additionally, the refinery has begun leaving an imprint on several international markets.
According to Aliko Dangote, the CEO of the Dangote oil refinery, the refinery exported around one million tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during June and July 2025.
Nigeria’s gasoline imports declined drastically, from 500,000 barrels per day in early 2023 to barely 88,000 by the first quarter of 2025, putting an end to its status as Africa’s largest petrol importer, which is presently held by South Africa.
According to current CITAC analysis, this shift is obviously tied to Dangote’s ramp-up, with Nigeria’s 2025 imports expected to be only 6.4 million tonnes, less than half of South Africa’s 15.5 million tonnes.
