Africa's largest oil refinery is set to achieve full operational capacity within a month, according to senior management. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which can process 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily, is currently running at 85% capacity, Head of Refinery Edwin Devakumar announced Monday.

The Lagos-based facility, owned by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, has gradually ramped up operations since beginning crude processing in January 2023. While initially focusing on diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel production, the refinery expanded to petrol manufacturing in September.

Despite having an agreement with the federal government to purchase crude oil using local currency, the refinery has had to rely on imported crude due to domestic supply constraints. Nevertheless, the facility is actively pursuing market expansion, with Dangote recently revealing successful jet fuel shipments to Saudi Aramco.

The refinery's imminent full-scale operation positions it as a significant competitor to European refineries, though securing adequate local crude supplies remains a challenge. "We are actively exploring all available markets to expand our reach," Devakumar said.