NMDPRA Says Dangote Imports 1.46bn Litres Blended Gasoline To Boost Its Refined Fuel Production
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has revealed a growing reliance by Dangote Petroleum Refinery on imported gasoline blendstock, mainly to boost its refined fuel production, according to The PUNCH
Latest industry data obtained from the NMDPRA’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Statistics for May 2026 and analyzed by our correspondent on Sunday showed that the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery imported about 1.46 billion liters of intermediates and gasoline blendstock between January and May this year, despite receiving volumes of domestic and imported crude oil.
The industry report showed that the refinery continued to supplement crude oil processing with imported intermediates, helping it sustain daily petrol production of 44.7 million liters and achieve an average capacity utilization of 101.25 percent in May.
It also indicates that the refinery continued to rely on imported intermediates and gasoline blendstock to optimize production of Premium Motor Spirit despite increased access to crude oil supplies.
The PUNCH reports that gasoline blendstock refers to intermediate petroleum products used in refining operations to produce finished petrol that meets required quality and environmental specifications.
The product, rather than being sold directly to consumers, serves as an intermediate feedstock that is blended with other refinery streams and additives to produce Premium Motor Spirit that meets required quality, octane, and environmental specifications.
The blendstocks can be mixed with products generated from crude oil refining to increase petrol output, improve fuel quality, and enhance refining flexibility. Common gasoline blendstocks include reformate, alkylate, naphtha, and other high-octane blending components.
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By introducing gasoline blendstocks into the refining process, a refinery can increase the volume of finished petrol produced without relying solely on crude oil inputs. This can be particularly useful when domestic demand is strong or when refiners seek to maximize returns from specific products.
In the case of Dangote Refinery, the NMDPRA data suggest that imported blendstocks may be helping the facility sustain high petrol output and reach its nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
An analysis of the report by our correspondent showed that Dangote Refinery imported 658.31 million litres of gasoline 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.
The cumulative volume imported during the five-month period stood at approximately 1.46 billion liters. The latest data showed that after three consecutive months of decline between January and March, the refinery increased its blendstock intake in April and May, signaling stronger feedstock purchases as production activities expanded.
The May volume of 240.59 million liters represented a 63.3 percent increase from the 147.37 million liters imported in April. The development comes as the refinery sustained high utilization rates and continued to dominate Nigeria’s domestic fuel supply market.
According to the NMDPRA report, the refinery operated at an average capacity utilization of 101.25 percent in May, underscoring strong operational performance at the facility.
The report further showed that the refinery produced an average of 44.7 million liters of premium motor spirit per day during the month. Out of the total PMS produced, about 41.5 million liters per day were supplied to the domestic market, while closing stock stood at 9.4 million liters.
