By Olumide Johnson
Nigeria’s petrol import dependence eased in August as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery supplied a larger share of domestic requirements, even as the refinery ended the month with 630.9 million litres of refined products in stock.
Latest data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) show that petrol imports declined significantly while domestic receipts increased.
DEVELOPMENT
The NMDPRA’s August 2026 State of the Midstream and Downstream Sector factsheet showed that Dangote Refinery’s closing inventory comprised 360.4 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 137.2 million litres of automotive gas oil (diesel) and 133.3 million litres of aviation turbine kerosene.
The refinery produced an average 41.94 million litres of PMS daily, supplied 35.87 million litres to the domestic market and exported 9.73 million litres daily. Its average capacity utilisation reached 105.21 percent.
DATA
Average daily PMS imports fell 26 percent from 19.7 million litres in July to 14.6 million litres in August, while domestic PMS receipts increased 39 percent from 25.8 million litres to 35.9 million litres daily.
Dangote accounted for about 71 percent of total PMS receipts in August.
Total PMS receipts rose 11 percent to 50.5 million litres daily, with domestic receipts exceeding imports by 21.3 million litres.
Diesel imports fell 84 percent, from 7.9 million litres daily in July to 1.3 million litres in August.
PMS consumption declined 14 percent to 41.5 million litres daily, while petrol stock sufficiency improved from 22.4 days to 22.9 days. Diesel stock sufficiency rose from 46.5 days to 51.6 days.
SIGNIFICANCE
The figures indicate a changing supply structure in which domestic refining is accounting for a greater proportion of Nigeria’s fuel receipts. The refinery’s 630.9 million-litre combined inventory, however, highlights the commercial challenge created when significant imported volumes continue entering the market.
The refinery had previously raised concerns about imported PMS and uncertainty over future import volumes.
It said: “As a responsible energy provider, we have always endeavoured to keep adequate reserves to satisfy local demand at all times.
“However, in an environment where significant volumes of imported PMS continue to enter the market through licences issued by the regulator, and where there is limited visibility on future import volumes, it becomes commercially unsustainable to continue holding excess inventory indefinitely.”
NEXT MOVE
Crude receipts to local refineries increased 17 percent from 585,000 barrels per day in July to 683,000 barrels in August. Between January and August, domestic refineries received 137.98 million barrels of feedstock, with domestic crude accounting for 79.64 percent.
The three NNPCL-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna recorded no production in August.
OUR LENS
The deeper development is not simply the fall in petrol imports. It is the growing tension between rising domestic refining capacity and the structure of market supply.
Dangote’s August numbers show capacity to supply substantial domestic volumes while maintaining exports. But its inventory position suggests that refinery economics depend increasingly on predictable market access and visibility over competing imports.
The company said surplus products not immediately absorbed domestically would have to be exported, describing rising exports as a response to excess inventory rather than an inability to meet local demand.
Olumide Johnson is a journalist, reporting on energy, maritime, business, and developments shaping Nigeria’s economy.
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