The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its use of imported gasoline blendstock and intermediate petroleum products to support fuel production, according to new data released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Figures contained in the NMDPRA’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Statistics for May 2026 show that the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery imported about 1.46 billion litres of gasoline blendstock and intermediates between January and May this year.
The imported materials were used alongside domestic and imported crude oil to maintain strong fuel production levels. Industry experts explain that gasoline blendstocks are unfinished petroleum products that are mixed with refinery outputs to produce petrol that meets required quality and environmental standards.
Data from the regulator revealed that the refinery imported 658.31 million litres of blendstock in January, 306.89 million litres in February, 102.35 million litres in March, 147.37 million litres in April, and 240.59 million litres in May.
Although imports declined steadily from January to March as crude oil supplies improved, they rose again in April and May. The May figure represented a 63.3 percent increase compared to April, indicating stronger purchases of supplementary feedstock as refinery operations expanded.
The increased imports coincided with one of the refinery’s strongest operational performances since it began production. According to the NMDPRA, the refinery achieved an average capacity utilisation rate of 101.25 percent in May, operating above its installed capacity.
During the same period, the refinery produced an average of 44.7 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, every day. Of this volume, approximately 41.5 million litres were supplied to the Nigerian market, while the remaining quantity was held as stock.
The refinery also maintained significant production of other petroleum products. Daily diesel production reached 24.5 million litres, with 18.2 million litres supplied locally and 6.5 million litres exported. Aviation fuel production averaged 21.9 million litres per day, with most of the output destined for export markets.
The report further showed that the refinery continued to receive both local and imported crude oil. In May alone, it received a total of 17.92 million barrels of crude, including 15.84 million barrels sourced domestically and 2.08 million barrels imported from abroad.
Industry analysts believe the use of blendstock allows the refinery to maximise output, improve fuel quality and maintain operational flexibility, especially when crude oil supply is not fully stable.
Professor of Energy at the University of Lagos, Dayo Ayoade, explained that importing gasoline blendstocks is a standard practice in refineries worldwide. He noted that the materials help produce cleaner fuels with lower sulphur content and support efficient refinery operations.
However, he cautioned that continued reliance on imported feedstocks has economic implications, particularly because it requires foreign exchange. According to him, while the strategy helps maintain production and meet market demand, it also means money leaves the country to pay for imported inputs.
Despite this concern, the Dangote Refinery remains Nigeria’s dominant refining facility. The report showed that the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries were still inactive as of May 2026, leaving Dangote as the country’s major source of locally refined petroleum products.
The latest figures highlight the refinery’s growing role in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and its efforts to maintain high production levels while expanding exports to regional markets.
