Edo Refinery Hits 104.24% Capacity Utilisation as Modular Plants Supply 620,000 Litres of Diesel Daily

Edo Refinery exceeded 100% capacity utilisation in September 2026, posting 104.24% and emerging as Nigeria’s best-performing modular refinery by that measure. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) September 2026 factsheet showed four operational modular refineries supplied 620,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), popularly known as diesel, daily, meeting just 4.3% of national consumption.

Edo leads utilisation, Walter Smith leads volume

Edo Refinery recorded average capacity utilisation of 104.24%, classified as high. Walter Smith Refinery posted moderate utilisation of 62.25%, but it was the largest diesel producer among the four, producing an average of 290,000 litres daily and supplying 310,000 litres to the domestic market. Edo produced and supplied 90,000 litres daily.

Aradel Refinery produced 140,000 litres daily but supplied 120,000 litres. OPAC produced 140,000 litres and supplied 110,000 litres. Duport Refinery stayed shut throughout the period, with no production or supply figures. Aradel and OPAC operated at 31.90% and 18.43% utilisation.

A utilisation rate above 100% means actual throughput surpassed the benchmark capacity used for measurement. The regulator did not explain the factors behind Edo Refinery’s performance.

Diesel receipts fall 40% despite higher consumption

Average daily diesel consumption rose to 14.5 million litres in September from 14.3 million litres in August. The four modular refineries supplied only 4.3% of that consumption. Average daily diesel receipts fell 40%, from 14.5 million litres in August to 8.7 million litres in September. Domestic receipts dropped 39% to 8.1 million litres daily. Imports fell 54% to about 600,000 litres.

Nigeria still held diesel stock sufficiency of 49.7 days, above the regulatory benchmark of 30 days. NMDPRA identified feedstock shortages and maintenance shutdowns as factors affecting operations at Aradel and OPAC.

Crude receipts slip as modular plants face limits

Crude oil receipts across domestic refineries declined 9%, from 681,000 barrels daily in August to 618,000 barrels in September. Between January and September, Nigerian refineries received 156.51 million barrels of crude, with domestic sources accounting for 80.4%.

The modular refineries signal opportunities for competition and diversification of domestic fuel supply. Their combined 4.3% contribution to diesel consumption suggests their immediate influence on nationwide prices remains limited. Unlike Dangote Refinery, which operates on a much larger scale, modular facilities face capacity limitations and operational challenges. Sustained production improvements could gradually reduce import dependence and strengthen competition in Nigeria’s diesel market.

NMDPRA data also showed Dangote Petroleum Refinery recorded average capacity utilisation of 105.21% in August. The 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery processed crude above its designed capacity, as increased local output sharply reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported petrol and diesel.