Africas richest man, Aliko Dangote, is seeing his mega-refinery in Lagos gain strategic importance as refinery shutdowns sweep across Europe and North America. Energy intelligence firm Kpler says the closures have tightened global fuel markets, giving the Dangote refinery more influence over product flows.
Kpler reports that roughly 900,000 barrels per day of refining capacity in the West of Suez have been permanently removed, reshaping supply dynamics. The loss of European and North American capacity has particularly affected the Atlantic Basin, heightening reliance on late-cycle mega-refineries like Dangotes mega-refinery.
The permanent closure of nearly 800,000 barrels per day across Europe and North America has materially tightened product balances, Kpler said. The markets ability to rebalance now depends on the operational normalization of two late-cycle mega-refineries: 650,000 bpd Dangote and 340,000 bpd Dos Bocas, both designed to anchor regional supply.
