Dangote Petroleum Refinery has again imported gasoline components for blending, bringing total volumes to 135,853 metric tonnes at its Lekki facility, according to shipping and trade-flow data reviewed by Petroleumprice.ng.
The latest shipments follow earlier gasoline component imports reported in January. They show that the refinery continues to supplement output with imported blending components to stabilise premium motor spirit (PMS) supply.
The imports come after a series of operational and commercial disruptions at the refinery. These include a temporary suspension of petrol sales, a sharp price increase, a gantry shutdown, and maintenance on the crude distillation unit (CDU). Together, these developments point to a growing reliance on gasoline components for blending to sustain PMS availability.
January Discharge at Dangote Lekki
Shipping records show that the Medium Range tanker Hafnia Guangzhou is discharging 59,853 metric tonnes of gasoline blendstock at the Dangote Lekki terminal.
Vitol operates the cargo. The vessel loaded between January 23 and 26 and arrived in Nigeria on January 29, 2026. Market sources say the refinery will use the gasoline components exclusively for PMS blending, not as finished petrol.
The discharge occurred days after Dangote Refinery raised its ex-depot petrol price to ₦799 per litre.
February Gasoline Component Cargoes Due
Two additional gasoline component cargoes, each carrying 38,000 metric tonnes, are scheduled to arrive in early February.
The tanker Torm Malaysia, carrying gasoline component, is expected to discharge at the Lekki terminal upon its arrival on January 31, 2026. Meanwhile, Torm Leader is scheduled to arrive on February 4, 2026, to discharge a similar gasoline component cargo.
Once both cargoes discharge, total gasoline component imports for blending will reach 135,853 metric tonnes.
Blending Strategy Deepens
Industry sources say the renewed inflow extends the refinery’s gasoline blending strategy, first observed with earlier January imports.
Those shipments, like the current arrivals, consisted of unfinished gasoline components, not finished petrol. The refinery blends the components with existing streams to meet PMS specifications for the Nigerian market.
Market watchers say the pattern reflects a deliberate and sustained reliance on gasoline components for blending, allowing the refinery to keep PMS available while it navigates operational adjustments at the Lekki complex.
