The shutdown of refineries across Europe and North America has tightened global fuel markets and handed Nigeria’s Dangote refinery greater leverage in shaping refined product balances, according to energy intelligence firm Kpler. The permanent closure of nearly 800,000 barrels per day of refining capacity across Europe and North America has materially tightened product balances, particularly for middle distillates. The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, announced last year that the refinery would be upgraded to 1.4 mbpd capacity to make it the largest in the world. Last week, the Managing Director of the Dangote refinery, David Bird, disclosed that the refinery expansion could be completed in three years. Meanwhile, Engineers India Limited announced that it would lead the expansion of the Dangote refinery, a project that will increase the facility’s capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day.

Source: Punch January 22, 2026 09:33 UTC