Dangote Refinery has signed a strategic partnership with Honeywell to deploy advanced petrochemical technology, significantly expanding its production capacity for key industrial inputs like plastics and detergent raw materials. This move marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, positioning the Lekki-based refinery as a leading integrated petrochemical hub in Africa. The agreement will enable the refinery to produce an additional 750,000 metric tonnes of propylene annually using Honeywell UOP’s Oleflex technology. Propylene is a vital feedstock for polypropylene, which is widely used in packaging, consumer goods, and industrial applications.
In parallel, the refinery will also produce 400,000 metric tonnes of linear alkylbenzene each year using Honeywell’s technology. Linear alkylbenzene is a critical component in the production of detergents and cleaning products. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to become one of the largest linear alkylbenzene plants in the world. This expansion reflects Dangote Refinery’s strategic shift from a fuel-centric operation to a comprehensive petrochemical complex, strengthening its role in Africa’s downstream and manufacturing ecosystem.
The initiative aligns with Dangote’s broader mission to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported industrial raw materials and build local manufacturing capacity. Industry experts believe this expansion will generate substantial economic value across sectors including packaging, household goods, and manufacturing. It is also expected to enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce foreign exchange strain caused by imports. The petrochemical expansion leverages existing infrastructure, including a $2 billion petrochemical plant within the Lekki complex that began polypropylene production in March 2025 with a capacity of 830,000 metric tonnes per year.
Dangote Refinery, currently processing up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily, is undergoing a phased expansion to reach 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028. If completed, this will make it the largest refinery in the world by throughput. The collaboration with Honeywell builds on a long-standing relationship, as Honeywell’s technology was integral to the refinery’s original design and efficiency improvements. Although financial details of the new agreement were not disclosed, the scale of the planned output suggests a multi-billion-dollar investment in Nigeria’s petrochemical sector.
From a national perspective, this development supports Nigeria’s industrial diversification goals by promoting backward integration, boosting local manufacturing, and enhancing export potential across West Africa. The increased domestic production of polypropylene and linear alkylbenzene is expected to stabilise prices and improve competitiveness for Nigerian manufacturers. This strategic move not only strengthens Dangote’s global footprint but also signals a new era of self-reliance in Nigeria’s industrial landscape.
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