Dangote Refinery Halts Petrol Loading as Fresh Price Hike Looms

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has halted the loading of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, raising fresh speculation across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector that a new upward review of the refinery’s ex-depot price may be imminent.

Industry sources confirmed to Petroleumprice.ng that petrol truck-out operations at the refinery were suspended at about 2:00 a.m. on Friday, leaving marketers and depot operators closely monitoring the refinery’s next pricing move.

The development has heightened market attention because similar pauses in petrol loading activities at the refinery have historically preceded price adjustments. As a result, the latest suspension has fueled widespread speculation among product marketers and bulk buyers that a new pricing template could soon be announced.

Checks conducted by Petroleumprice.ng indicate that the refinery had earlier loaded a limited number of trucks for some NNPC Retail outlets on Thursday, before broader petrol loading operations were halted overnight.

The stoppage has introduced a fresh layer of uncertainty in the downstream market, with depot operators and product distributors now closely assessing supply expectations and possible pricing adjustments.

For now, market participants say attention remains fixed on the refinery’s next move, as traders and marketers await confirmation on whether the suspension of PMS loading will translate into a new price revision in the domestic petrol market.