Fake News! Dangote Refinery Not Shut Down, Blames ‘Evil’ Oil Importers

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dismissed as fake news claims that it has shut down operations, accusing fuel importers seeking to undermine local refining of spreading false information.
In a statement issued on Monday, operators of Nigeria’s first privately owned refinery said the facility remains fully operational, sustaining both its daily production levels and the pricing regime introduced ahead of the yuletide period.
Rejecting reports suggesting the refinery was shutting down for maintenance, the company described the claims as false and misleading, stressing that operations are continuing at full scale.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to operate at scale and retains the capacity to supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily through January and February, subject solely to market demand,” the statement said.
It added that on January 4, the refinery produced 50 million litres of PMS and evacuated 48 million litres through its gantry, noting that current stock levels are sufficient to cover more than 20 days of national consumption, effectively dispelling fears of supply shortages.
While acknowledging that routine maintenance was being carried out on specific units such as the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit, the refinery clarified that the work did not disrupt overall production due to the facility’s integrated and sophisticated design.
The statement further explained that other critical units — including the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker — remain fully operational and are actively producing PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), and Jet A-1.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery confirms that it has consistently maintained adequate PMS availability for the domestic market. From December 16, 2025, to date, the refinery has loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, in line with prevailing market demand,” the statement noted.
It added that these figures are verifiable through depot loading records maintained by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) as part of its regulatory oversight.
Reaffirming its ex-gantry price of N699 per litre for PMS, available to all marketers and bulk consumers, the refinery urged filling stations, large-scale users, and institutional buyers to patronise locally refined products, describing them as more affordable, reliable, and of superior quality compared to imported alternatives.
“By sourcing PMS locally at N699 per litre, marketers are better positioned to pass on price relief to consumers, enhance market stability, conserve foreign exchange, and support Nigeria’s broader economic recovery and energy security objectives,” the refinery stated.
The company accused fuel importers of pushing false narratives to justify recent and unjustified increases in petrol pump prices, warning that such actions are against national interest and impose unnecessary hardship on Nigerians.
According to the statement, without domestic refining capacity, petrol prices could rise to as much as N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment, underscoring the stabilising role of local production.
“In the absence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, fuel importers would continue to operate without restraint, with petrol prices potentially escalating to levels estimated at up to N1,400 per litre. The refinery’s operations have therefore served as a critical stabilising force in the downstream petroleum market,” it said.
Reiterating its commitment to Nigeria’s energy security and market stability, the refinery assured Nigerians of continued supply of high-quality petroleum products, steady availability, and support for national economic growth.
The public and stakeholders were advised to disregard misinformation and rely on verified sources.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery will continue to act in the national interest by supplying high-quality, locally refined petroleum products while supporting Nigeria’s economic stability, energy independence, and industrial growth,” the statement concluded.