The Federal Government has thrown its full support behind Dangote Refinery’s ambitious plan to double its output to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) from the current 650,000 bpd.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, announced the endorsement at the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos, stating that the expansion would help meet domestic demand and supply energy markets across Africa, home to 1.5 billion people.
“The Dangote Refinery’s expansion is part of the effort to serve West Africa and the entire continent. The Federal Government will fully support Dangote to achieve this,” Lokpobiri said. He added that removing the fuel subsidy was crucial to enabling private sector growth in the downstream and midstream sectors.
NNPC Ltd also reaffirmed its commitment to upgrading and expanding downstream infrastructure nationwide, with Group CEO Engr. Bayo Ojulari emphasizing partnerships and innovative projects in LPG, CNG, and mini-LNG.
However, the Society of Energy Editors (SEE) urged caution, noting that the refinery’s feedstock supply must be secured for Nigeria to achieve energy self-sufficiency. Lagos-based analyst Kunle Odusola-Stevenson hailed the refinery as a symbol of Nigeria’s industrial potential and global credibility.
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