The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is preparing to bring in crude oil from international sources to support its growing production needs. This step comes as local supplies from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) fall short of meeting demand.

An insider disclosed that the refinery is now producing 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) and plans to reach 650,000 bpd by June 2025. However, the current supply of 350,000 bpd from NNPCL, which is part of the 450,000 bpd allocated for local refineries, is not enough for the refinery’s operations.

“At 500,000 bpd, we already need to look beyond Nigeria for crude oil. By midyear, when we hit 650,000 bpd, this will become even more essential,” the source explained.

The Nigerian government introduced the “Naira-for-crude” deal last year to secure a steady crude supply for domestic refineries. Under this plan, 450,000 bpd was allocated for refining locally. In November and December, the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries resumed operations under the deal.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission reported that eight refineries would require 123.5 million barrels of crude oil in the first six months of 2025.

Devakumar Edwin, Vice President at Dangote Industries, highlighted the importance of maintaining higher crude stockpiles. He explained that importing crude oil is a necessary step to meet the refinery’s ambitious production goals and ensure consistent operations.