Dangote Exports 1.3bn Litres Of Petrol As Marketers Buy foreign Fuel

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced large-scale exports of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, having sold approximately 1.35 billion litres to international markets within the past 50 days.

This milestone was revealed by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during the ongoing Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets. The event is being hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in partnership with S&P Global Insights.

Dangote disclosed that between June and July 2025, the refinery exported around 1 million metric tonnes of petrol—equivalent to roughly 1.35 billion litres.

“Today, Nigeria has actually become a net exporter of refined products. Before I came up here, I confirmed with my team that we have exported about 1 million tonnes of PMS from the beginning of June to date, all within just 50 days,” he stated.

Despite this notable achievement, Nigeria continues to depend heavily on imported fuel. According to NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, Nigeria and other West African nations still import about 69% of their gasoline supply from international markets.

Citing 2025 trading statistics, Ahmed noted that the region consumes an average of 2.05 million metric tonnes of gasoline monthly, with a significant portion being imported.

In fact, recent data from The PUNCH reveals that over the last eight days alone, Nigeria imported a total of 231.88 million litres of PMS. This figure, based on the Shipping Position Daily report from the Nigerian Ports Authority, corresponds to 172,917 metric tonnes of PMS, received through major terminals such as Apapa, Tin Can, and Calabar ports. Each metric tonne of PMS contains approximately 1,341 litres.

While the refinery’s export push marks a significant step toward reducing reliance on imports, Dangote has had to respond to criticism suggesting the company seeks to monopolize the downstream sector. He firmly denied these claims.

“I want to address the concerns about monopoly and dominance. The truth is, many people with the means to help build this nation prefer to invest their wealth abroad while offering criticism from the sidelines,” he said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also emphasized the need for Africa to assert more control over the pricing of its natural resources, rather than remaining a passive participant in the global energy market.

“Africa must no longer be a price taker. We need to set credible and transparent benchmarks that reflect our production realities and shield our economies,” Tinubu said via his official X handle.

He further highlighted that Nigeria is working with regional allies to build an integrated energy market aimed at rewarding local production, improving energy access for African populations, and promoting cross-border economic growth.

“From refining to regulation, from data transparency to trade flows, Nigeria is collaborating with regional partners to create a unified market that supports our production, secures energy for our people, and promotes regional prosperity,” the president stated.

Meanwhile, the NMDPRA is partnering with S&P Global Commodity Insights to develop regional pricing indices for refined products such as PMS, Automotive Gasoil, Aviation Turbine Kerosene, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

According to Ahmed, the establishment of a West African benchmark will enhance market transparency, attract infrastructure investment, and provide real-time price visibility for stakeholders across the fuel value chain.

“Our goal is to build a transparent, data-driven market that accurately reflects fuel value and cost across West Africa,” Ahmed concluded.