Dangote Refinery Ends Nigeria’s Reign as Africa’s Top Fuel Importer

Nigeria has relinquished its long-held position as Africa’s largest importer of fuel, thanks to the ramp-up in production at the Dangote refinery, according to a new report by Bloomberg. The shift places South Africa at the top of the continent’s fuel import chart as it grapples with declining refining capacity.

Citing data from energy consultancy CITAC, Bloomberg reported that Nigeria’s fuel imports have dropped significantly due to sustained operations at the Dangote refinery. “Since the beginning of this year, South African imports have been consistently highest in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Elitsa Georgieva, executive director at CITAC.

The development reflects a broader ambition among African nations like Uganda and Mozambique to expand their refining capacity. Even so, Bloomberg notes that the process is challenging, pointing to Dangote’s own \$20 billion project, which exceeded budget expectations and faced delays before becoming operational.

With several South African refineries shuttered since 2020 due to accidents and lack of investment, traders such as Glencore Plc and Vitol SA have found increasing opportunities to supply fuel to the country. CITAC estimates that South Africa imported 4.2 million tons of refined products in the first quarter of 2025, while Nigeria brought in 3.1 million tons. Projections show South Africa could import 15.5 million tons this year, far surpassing Kenya’s 8.9 million and Nigeria’s 6.4 million tons.

Bloomberg also quoted South Africa’s state-owned logistics firm, Transnet SOC Ltd, stating that imports now meet over 60 percent of the nation’s fuel needs. To address this, the government acquired the defunct Sapref refinery from Shell Plc and BP Plc in 2024 in a bid to revive domestic production.

As South Africa seeks to stabilize supply, the country may attract even more fuel traders. Swiss commodity firm Gunvor is among those reportedly shortlisted to acquire Shell’s retail stations in the region.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Dangote began selling refined products in naira following the official launch of the naira-for-crude deal on October 1, 2024, marking another milestone in the country’s evolving energy landscape.