The Dangote Refinery is hitting the “pause” button for a bit. This is not that the plant is going offline, it’s actually a move to make the refinery bigger and better for 2026.

Right now, the refinery is doing turnaround maintenance. Think of it like taking a car to the shop for a massive engine upgrade. They are fixing up the main units (like the one that makes petrol) to make sure everything runs smoothly.

The goal? To jump from producing 650,000 barrels per day to a massive 700,000 barrels per day by early 2026.

Why This Matters for You

Since this refinery started, Nigeria has stopped importing as much fuel from other countries. In fact, fuel imports are down by 60%. This helps the country save money and keeps the fuel supply more stable.

By taking this break now, the refinery is making sure that by next year, it can produce even more petrol, which usually helps keep prices from going crazy.

The refinery is still making some petrol using other parts of the plant. They are still producing diesel and jet fuel. Management says there is plenty of fuel stored up to get everyone through the holiday season.

What you should know

This isn’t just about fixing broken pipes. It’s about “de-bottlenecking”, which is just a fancy way of saying they are removing anything that slows them down.

By 2026, Nigeria is aiming to be the “refining hub” of Africa. This short break is just the final step before the refinery goes into beast mode.