By Francis Ajuonuma
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the full restoration and optimisation of its Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Motor Spirit (MS) production block, with both units now operating at their nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd).
According to the company, the milestone follows a scheduled maintenance exercise on the CDU and MS Block, after which the refinery commenced a 72-hour performance test in collaboration with its technology licensor, UOP LLC. The exercise is designed to validate operational efficiency and ensure that all critical parameters meet global standards.
Chief Executive Officer, David Bird, said the successful stabilisation of the units reflects the refinery’s engineering and operational capacity.
“Our teams have demonstrated exceptional precision and expertise in stabilising both the CDU and MS Block, and we are pleased to see them functioning at optimal efficiency,” Bird said.
“This performance testing phase enables us to validate the entire plant under real operating conditions. We are confident that the refinery remains firmly on track to deliver consistent, world-class output.”
The CDU and MS Block comprise the naphtha hydrotreater, isomerisation unit and reformer unit. Bird confirmed that the units are now operating steadily at 650,000 bpd, while other processing units are scheduled to begin their respective performance tests in Phase 2 next week.
During the recent festive period, the refinery supplied between 45 and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily. With the CDU and MS Block fully restored, output is projected to increase to up to 75 million litres per day for the domestic market, depending on demand.
Bird reiterated the refinery’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy security, industrial growth, job creation and broader economic development.
