African Giants Turn To Dangote Refinery For Fuel Security Amid Global Supply Disruptions; Facility Hikes Gantry Price To N1,245 Per Litre

South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya turn to Dangote Refinery for petrol as Middle East war disrupts supply. Refinery raises gantry price to N1,245/litre.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 9:04 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from LEADERSHIP

Regional Scramble for Energy Security

As the US-Israel war on Iran continues to destabilize global oil flows, African nations are increasingly looking to Nigeria for energy stability. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals is currently negotiating with several governments—including South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya—to manage a massive influx of demand. Industry analysts note that southern and eastern African nations are particularly vulnerable, as approximately 75% of their refined fuel imports typically originate from the Middle East. With those routes now compromised, the 650,000 barrel-per-day facility in Lagos has emerged as the continent's primary fallback for fuel availability.

Price Adjustments Amid Geopolitical Volatility

Despite its role as a regional buffer, the Dangote refinery has not been immune to the surging costs of global crude and freight. On Friday, the refinery notified marketers of an upward review of its petrol pricing. The ex-depot (gantry) price was raised from N1,175 per litre to N1,245 per litre—a N70 increase. Coastal prices were also adjusted to N1,606,518 per metric tonne. The company stated that the review, effective from midnight on March 21, 2026, was a necessary response to "external factors beyond its control" driven by the intensified global geopolitical climate.

South Africa’s Strategic Push for Nigerian Petrol

South Africa is reportedly seeking a long-term, 12-month standard contract with the Dangote refinery to shore up its dwindling reserves. While South Africa holds strategic crude oil stocks, it possesses almost no dedicated fuel reserves, a vulnerability that has become acute as Middle Eastern supplies stall. Discussions remain private, but government officials in Pretoria have confirmed they are coordinating with industry stakeholders to diversify their sources. For these nations, the current crisis has shifted the focus from price sensitivity to absolute product availability.