LAGOS, NIGERIA — In a move that cements Nigeria’s transition into a global energy powerhouse, the Dangote Group has officially entered a $350 million partnership with India’s premier engineering consultancy, Engineers India Ltd (EIL). The agreement, finalized on January 17, 2026, focuses on the “Train 2” expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in the Lekki Free Zone.
The expansion is designed to more than double the facility’s existing capacity, catapulting it from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day (BPD). Once completed, the complex will stand as the world’s largest single-location refinery, surpassing the current record held by India’s Jamnagar facility.
“Roofless Replication”: The Strategy for Speed
Dangote Petroleum Refinery CEO David Bird confirmed that the project will utilize a “roofless replication” strategy to meet an aggressive three-year completion target. By duplicating the proven engineering designs of the existing “Train 1,” the group aims to bypass the lengthy redesign phases that often lead to industrial cost overruns.
- Accelerated Procurement: Long-lead equipment orders are being finalized in January 2026.
- Site Readiness: Early civil works and piling are already underway, leveraging land that was pre-reclaimed and raised during the initial $19 billion construction phase.
- Infrastructure Synergy: Because the groundwork is already complete, structural steel is expected to “rise from the ground” by the end of 2026.
Petrochemical Dominance: The Polypropylene Surge
Beyond fuel production, the $350 million contract with EIL—who will serve as the Project Management and EPCM consultant—includes a massive scaling of the site’s petrochemical output.
| Product Component | Current Capacity | Expanded Target (by 2028) |
| Refining Throughput | 650,000 BPD | 1.4 Million BPD |
| Polypropylene | 830,000 Tonnes | 2.4 Million Tonnes (MMTPA) |
| Fuel Standards | Euro V | Euro VI (Environmentally Advanced) |
To support this surge, the project will integrate a world-scale 750 kTPA UOP Oleflex unit, specifically to boost propylene feedstock for industrial applications in packaging and automotive manufacturing.
A Milestone for Energy Sovereignty
The Dangote Refinery has already reshaped West African economics, delivering over 50 million litres of petrol (PMS) daily to the Nigerian market as of late 2025. This expansion transforms Nigeria from a nation historically paralyzed by fuel import reliance into a net exporter of high-grade, Euro VI-compliant fuels.
“This is a continent-building project,” noted Bird. By creating over 65,000 construction jobs and securing domestic fuel supply through a “crude-for-naira” arrangement, the expansion serves as a strategic bulwark against international market volatility and a critical driver for the Nigerian economy.
