For decades, Sub-Saharan Africa relied on importing refined fuel products despite exporting millions of barrels of raw crude daily. That structural dynamic has fundamentally shifted as mega-refineries, modernized processing complexes, and expanded state facilities come online across West and North Africa. Ranked by daily nameplate processing capacity (barrels per day), here are the largest operational oil refineries processing crude across the African continent in 2026.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery (Nigeria)
Located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is the largest single-train petroleum refinery complex in the world.
- Nameplate Capacity: 650,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Location: Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria
- Primary Output: Euro-V Gasoline, Diesel, Jet Fuel, Polypropylene
- Facility Type: Integrated Single-Train Deepwater Refinery
Built by the Dangote Group, this mega-facility features its own offshore single-point mooring (SPM) system for crude discharge and product loading. Designed to process 100% African crude grades alongside imported crude slates, the facility is transforming Nigeria into a net exporter of refined petroleum products across West Africa.
Skikda Refinery (Algeria)
The Skikda Refinery, operated by Algerian state energy company Sonatrach, serves as North Africa's premier processing facility for domestic Saharan crude.
- Nameplate Capacity: 356,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Location: Skikda, Algeria
- Primary Output: Diesel, Gasoline, Naphtha, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- Facility Type: Coastal Export Processing Complex
Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Skikda processes crude directly from the interior Hassi Messaoud fields. The complex supplies refined fuels to domestic markets while exporting high-value naphtha and diesel fuels directly to Southern European ports.
Mostorod Oil Refinery (Egypt)
Operated by the Egyptian Refining Company (ERC) in partnership with state entities, the Mostorod complex is Egypt's most advanced hydrocracking facility.
- Nameplate Capacity: 142,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Location: Mostorod, Greater Cairo, Egypt
- Primary Output: Euro-V Diesel, Jet Fuel, Reformate
- Facility Type: Secondary Hydrocracking and Upgrade Facility
Mostorod takes heavy fuel oil atmospheric residues from adjacent state facilities and converts them into high-value Euro-V refined products. This complex significantly reduces Egypt's reliance on imported diesel and aviation fuel for the Greater Cairo region.
MIDOR Refinery (Alexandria, Egypt)
Middle East Oil Refinery (MIDOR) is a state-of-the-art processing facility located on the Mediterranean coast near Alexandria.
- Nameplate Capacity: 160,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Location: Alexandria, Egypt
- Primary Output: High-Octane Gasoline, Jet Fuel, Low-Sulfur Diesel
- Facility Type: High-Complexity Conversion Refinery
Following a multi-billion-dollar expansion program, MIDOR increased its crude throughput capacity to process heavy and light crude slates efficiently. The plant operates with high Nelson Complexity Index ratings, allowing it to yield clean-burning fuels meeting international environmental standards.
SAMIR Refinery Complex (Morocco)
Located in Mohammedia, the SAMIR (Société Anonyme Marocaine de l'Industrie du Raffinage) facility historically anchored North West Africa's fuel storage and refining capacity.
- Nameplate Capacity: 150,000 barrels per day (bpd)
- Location: Mohammedia, Morocco
- Primary Output: Heavy Fuel Oil, Automotive Diesel, Bitumen
- Facility Type: Coastal Crude Distillation Complex
Though operating primarily as a national strategic fuel storage hub and deep-water terminal following corporate restructuring, the facility's immense infrastructure remains a central strategic asset for North African energy logistics and marine bunkering.
