The Dangote Petroleum Refinery played a significant role in Nigeria's petrol supply in August, accounting for about 71% of the country's total Premium Motor Spirit receipts. According to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the refinery supplied almost 36 million litres of petrol daily to the Nigerian market in August. This development marks a shift in the structure of Nigeria's petrol supply, as the country continues to reduce its dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
The NMDPRA's August 2026 State of the Midstream and Downstream Sector factsheet revealed that domestic PMS receipts rose by 39% from 25.8 million litres per day in July to 35.9 million litres per day in August. Over the same period, petrol imports fell by 26% from 19.7 million litres per day to 14.6 million litres per day. The figures indicate that domestic petrol receipts exceeded imports by 21.3 million litres per day in August.
The regulator reported that total PMS receipts rose by 11% from 45.5 million litres per day in July to 50.5 million litres per day in August. However, the increase in supply was accompanied by a 14% fall in recorded domestic PMS consumption, which declined from 48.3 million litres per day in July to 41.5 million litres per day in August. The NMDPRA said its consumption figures were based on volumes trucked out into the domestic market.
The Dangote refinery produced an average of 41.94 million litres of PMS daily in August, of which 35.87 million litres were supplied to the domestic market, while 9.73 million litres were exported. The refinery also ended August with 360.4 million litres of PMS in stock. The refinery's average capacity utilisation was put at 105.21% during the month, highlighting its growing contribution to domestic fuel supply.
The August figures came as crude oil receipts rose by 17% from 585,000 barrels per day in July to 683,000 barrels per day in August. Between January and August, domestic refineries received 137.98 million barrels of feedstock, comprising 109.88 million barrels of domestic crude and 28.10 million barrels of imported seaborne crude. Domestic crude accounted for 79.64% of the total refinery feedstock during the eight-month period.
The regulator also reported that petrol stock sufficiency improved marginally from 22.4 days in July to 22.9 days in August. The data further showed a sharp decline in diesel imports, with Automotive Gas Oil imports falling by 84% from 7.9 million litres per day in July to 1.3 million litres per day in August. Domestic AGO supply also declined by 16% to 13.2 million litres per day.
The latest figures indicate that the growing output of domestic refineries is beginning to reshape the balance between locally refined petroleum products and imported supplies. For petrol, the August figures put domestic supply ahead of imports by a wide margin, with the Dangote refinery alone recording domestic PMS receipts of 35.87 million litres per day, compared with total petrol imports of 14.6 million litres per day.
Key points
- Dangote refinery supplied 71% of Nigeria's petrol in August.
- Domestic petrol receipts exceeded imports by 21.3 million litres per day in August.
- Petrol stock sufficiency improved marginally from 22.4 days in July to 22.9 days in August.
