By Shittu Oluwadamilola
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has taken another decisive step toward reshaping the global energy landscape, selecting US-based Honeywell as its strategic partner for the next phase of its massive expansion plan. The partnership is set to double the refinery’s capacity to an unprecedented 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, reinforcing Dangote’s position as the driving force behind Africa’s industrial transformation and inching the world closer to witnessing the largest single-location refining complex ever built.
The announcement, contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, comes barely a month after the refinery unveiled its bold expansion roadmap. According to the management, Honeywell will deliver advanced catalysts, specialised equipment, and cutting-edge technology solutions that will allow the refinery to seamlessly process a broader range of crude grades. This collaboration is expected to significantly enhance efficiency, improve product quality and enable the planned rapid ramp-up in output—clear markers of Dangote Refinery’s transition from a national asset to a global refining powerhouse.
The statement read, “Dangote Group is pleased to announce that it has entered a strategic partnership with Honeywell International Inc to support the next phase of expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This collaboration will provide advanced technology and services that will enable the refinery to increase its processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, marking a major milestone in our long-term vision to build the world’s largest petroleum refining complex.”
The agreement will also see Dangote deploy Honeywell UOP’s Oleflex technology to boost its polypropylene capacity to 2.4 million metric tonnes per year. This positions Nigeria to become a more competitive player in the global petrochemicals market, reinforcing Dangote’s role in driving Africa’s manufacturing renaissance.
While financial details were not disclosed, a source familiar with the transaction told Reuters that the deal could exceed $250 million, depending on final project configurations—further reflecting investor confidence in the scale and seriousness of the Dangote expansion vision.
Honeywell, a global Fortune 100 leader in industrial engineering and advanced materials, has been a trusted technology partner to the refinery since 2017. Its UOP division has supplied key proprietary systems and equipment that underpin the refinery’s world-class operational standards. The renewed partnership marks a deepening of an already successful relationship built on reliability, innovation and shared ambition.
Beyond refining, the Dangote Group is advancing plans to boost its fertiliser production capacity from 3 million metric tonnes to 9 million metric tonnes annually. The expansion will add four new production trains to the existing two, designed to meet surging demand for high-quality fertiliser across Africa and beyond. This confirms Dangote’s broader commitment to strengthening regional food security while expanding Nigeria’s industrial footprint.
Nigeria, Africa’s leading crude producer, has historically relied on imported fuel due to decades of underperforming state-owned refineries. After years of failed turnaround maintenance efforts, crippling subsidies, and persistent shortages, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery emerged as the long-awaited solution to the country’s refining deficit. With an initial capacity of 650,000 barrels per day—already the world’s largest single-train refinery—the complex was designed to meet all of Nigeria’s fuel needs while supplying surplus to regional and global markets.
In line with this vision, Aliko Dangote recently confirmed plans for a second processing train that will lift total capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day. At this scale, the refinery could absorb nearly all of Nigeria’s current crude output, a development that could fundamentally transform the domestic oil market and position Nigeria as a true refining superpower.
“Our expansion vision is simple: position Nigeria as a global refining powerhouse,” Dangote stated. “We want to create an energy complex capable of meeting Africa’s needs while competing with the best globally.”
The timing of the partnership is also strategic for Honeywell, which is undergoing restructuring and preparing to spin off its aerospace division. Strengthening ties with Dangote aligns with Honeywell’s focus on high-growth energy and petrochemical markets.
As Nigeria works to end decades of fuel import dependency, industry analysts see this latest agreement as the strongest signal yet that the Dangote Refinery has moved firmly from construction achievement to operational maturity—and now to a phase of ambitious scale-up that promises long-term benefits for the nation and the continent.
“Dangote Group remains fully committed to delivering world-class industrial capacity, strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, and driving sustainable economic growth through long-term investment, innovation, and strategic global partnerships,” the statement concluded.
