Dangote Refinery Gasoline Outage May Extend Into November Amid Major Repairs
Nigeria’s 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery is facing an extended gasoline production halt that could last until November, after new assessments revealed deeper technical setbacks at its catalytic cracking unit.
The refinery’s Residue Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit (RFCCU) — central to gasoline output — was shut down on August 29 due to catalyst leaks. Initial estimates suggested repairs could be completed within two weeks, with some officials projecting a restart by mid-September. However, industry tracker IIR Energy, cited by Reuters, now reports that major equipment replacement is required, pushing downtime into two to three months.
The prolonged outage poses significant challenges for Nigeria’s fuel security. The refinery was designed to meet nearly all of the country’s 50-million-liter-per-day gasoline demand while supplying surplus volumes to neighboring markets. With its RFCCU out of service, Nigeria risks reverting to costly imports at a time when global product prices remain elevated.
Regional markets are also bracing for disruption. West Africa had anticipated steady gasoline flows from Lagos, but the extended outage leaves a supply gap. Analysts warn that this could tighten the Atlantic Basin market further, drive up crack spreads, and increase reliance on U.S. and European refiners to bridge the shortfall.
The development underscores the refinery’s outsized role in reshaping Nigeria’s downstream sector and highlights the vulnerabilities that remain during its ramp-up phase.
