Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has dispatched 12 cargoes totalling exactly 456,000 tonnes (456KT) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to five African markets, including Ghana and Togo, in its first major petrol export wave since hitting full production.

The shipments left the Lekki facility on a free-on-board (FOB) basis through international traders for delivery to Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo.

This occurred weeks after the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery reached its nameplate capacity in February 2026, amid acute supply disruptions in the Middle East.

This is according to the official statement released by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sunday, March 22, 2026: “The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has strengthened Nigeria’s presence in the regional energy market with the successful sales of 12 cargoes, by traders, totalling 456,000 tonnes (456KT) of refined petroleum products.

The shipments by traders, destined for countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo, represent the refinery’s export of Premium Motor Spirit since achieving a capacity of 650,000 barrels a day in February 2026.

The products were sold on an FOB basis to international traders for deliveries to the above-identified countries of export.” The volumes, equivalent to roughly 608 million litres, represent less than one-fifth of the refinery’s monthly output.

With 75% of production ring-fenced for Nigeria, the balance is now actively feeding regional demand in a continent where sub-Saharan oil product consumption reached 114 million metric tonnes in 2024 and where 75% of East and Southern African imports still originate from the Middle East.

The high-spec Euro 5 gasoline and diesel now flowing from Lekki directly cuts long-haul logistics costs and delivery delays for importers in Ghana, Togo, and beyond, easing immediate pressure on transport fleets, logistics SMEs, and downstream fuel markets.

The milestone confirms the refinery’s ability to exceed domestic requirements while scaling exports, as a senior refinery executive briefed journalists on Sunday:

“This accomplishment underscores the Dangote Refinery’s capability to not only meet but also exceed Nigeria’s domestic fuel demands.”

Nigeria is rapidly repositioning from a net importer to a continental supplier, delivering faster, cleaner, and cheaper fuel options to markets long exposed to volatile, distant sourcing.

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