The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has boosted its crude oil supply to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to seven cargoes for May loading, up from five in previous months, in a bid to ramp up domestic fuel production amid a global price spike driven by Middle East supply disruptions.
The increased allocation comes as international fuel prices climb on the back of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has tightened crude supplies from the Middle East and intensified competition among buyers for available barrels. Nigeria’s state oil company is moving to cushion the impact on the local market by feeding more crude to Africa’s largest refinery, which has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
Officials hope that higher throughput at the privately owned refinery will boost domestic availability of petrol and other refined products, reducing reliance on imports at a time of elevated international prices and volatile foreign exchange. Market watchers say sustained supply to the plant could gradually ease pressure on pump prices and help improve energy security, though the full impact will depend on operational levels and distribution bottlenecks nationwide.
A senior Dangote Refinery official, speaking to Reuters, confirmed the increased supply and welcomed the move while stressing that more crude would still be required to fully optimise output. “NNPC has allocated more cargoes to Dangote for May. While this will not completely meet our demands, it can help,” the official said.
