Fuel imports across West Africa surged sharply following a month-long maintenance shutdown at the Dangote Refinery, the continent’s largest fuel production facility.
The refinery’s 204,000 barrels-per-day gasoline unit was offline from April 7 to May 11 to fix design-related issues, significantly reducing gasoline output and prompting a regional scramble to source supply from Europe.
Although the refinery maintained operations at roughly 85% of its overall capacity during the period, the shutdown of its critical Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC) unit cut gasoline production by an estimated 100,000 barrels per day.
This shortfall drove up European gasoline prices and led to increased fuel shipments to Nigeria, Togo, and other West African countries.
According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, gasoline imports into Nigeria and Togo jumped from 200,000 barrels per day in January to over 300,000 barrels per day in March before easing slightly in April.
Officials at Dangote Refinery, which processes up to 650,000 barrels per day at full capacity, said they plan to ramp up production within 30 days.
The previously scheduled maintenance for June has been cancelled, as the necessary repairs were completed during the April-May unplanned shutdown.
The refinery’s other units, including those producing diesel, jet fuel, and residual fuels, remained operational throughout the maintenance period.
The crude distillation unit also continued running at 85% capacity, ensuring limited supply disruptions across fuel categories.
The shutdown, however, exposed the refinery’s pivotal role in regional energy stability.
As fuel supplies tightened, countries like Ghana explored increasing purchases from Dangote to cut back on expensive European imports, which cost the country nearly $400 million monthly.
A ₦10-per-litre drop in Nigeria’s pump prices on May 12 reflected early signs of recovery in supply and production levels.
Bloomberg previously reported that the tanker CL Jane Austen lifted over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from Dangote and headed for waters off Togo, highlighting the refinery’s growing dominance in Africa’s fuel trade.
Dangote is already in advanced talks with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, and has initiated early-stage discussions with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.
As the refinery prepares to reach full operational capacity, it continues to reshape West Africa’s energy trade patterns, solidifying its position as the continent’s primary fuel supplier and a strategic counterweight to European imports.
