By: ThinkBusiness Africa
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, already the largest single-train refinery globally, has entered into a landmark agreement on Tuesday, with multinational technology firm Honeywell to spearhead an ambitious capacity expansion that will see the facility nearly double its output to an unprecedented 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2028.
According to a statement from the Dangote Group, Honeywell will supply advanced process technologies, proprietary catalysts, specialized equipment, and technical services necessary for the massive scale-up.
Its Capacity Goal is to Increase from 650,000 bpd crude processing to 1.4 million bpd by 2028.
The technologies provided by Honeywell’s UOP division will allow the refinery to process a wider and more diverse range of crude oil grades, ensuring operational flexibility critical to its expanded capacity.
Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone Lagos state, boasts an existing capacity of 650,000 bpd. The expansion is centered on adding a second, large-scale single-train processing unit,
When fully operational at 1.4 million bpd, the complex will have the capacity to process nearly all of Nigeria’s current crude oil production of approximately 1.5 million bpd, a critical milestone for Africa’s largest economy.
Beyond refined fuels like Euro-V quality gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, the partnership will also dramatically boost the refinery’s petrochemical production capability.
Dangote is licensing Honeywell’s C3 Oleflex™ technology, which converts propane into high-value propylene via catalytic dehydrogenation.
This move will ensure the increase of propylene production by an additional 750,000 metric tons per year (MTPA); pushing the facility’s total annual polypropylene production capacity to 2.4 million MTPA.
Polypropylene is an essential industrial material used widely in plastics, packaging, and automotive components. This massive boost in petrochemical output underscores the company’s intent to be a major global player in this sector, moving Nigeria beyond a mere crude exporter.
The expansion comes at a pivotal moment, with Nigeria having historically depended heavily on imported refined products despite being a major crude oil producer.
Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, stated, “Our continued collaboration with Honeywell marks a significant milestone not only for Dangote’s refinery but for Nigeria’s energy sector as a whole.”
The agreement reinforces the nearly decade-long working relationship between Dangote and Honeywell, whose UOP technologies were foundational to the initial 650,000 bpd facility. While the financial terms of the new agreement were not disclosed, Reuters reported the technology contract alone could be valued at over $250 million.
