Top 10 largest oil refineries in Africa in 2026

Africa is home to some of the continent’s largest oil-refining facilities, with countries such as Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Libya and South Africa playing major roles in the refining sector. NigerianPartnership Consulting. The refining landscape has changed significantly in recent years, particularly with the commissioning of Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery, which has emerged as Africa’s largest refinery. Current 2026 industry reports put total African refining capacity at roughly 3.5–4 million barrels per day, although actual production varies considerably from one facility to another. South Africa’s SAPREF refinery in Durban historically had a capacity of about 180,000 barrels per day, making it one of Africa’s largest conventional crude-oil refineries. However, SAPREF’s operational status has changed since its shutdown, so its nameplate capacity should not be confused with current active production. Located in the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is Africa’s largest refinery and one of the world’s largest single-train refineries. The facility has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and produces products including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other refined petroleum products. In 2026, the refinery has become an increasingly important supplier to both Nigeria and international markets. Dangote is also planning to expand the facility to about 1.4 million barrels per day within three years.