Nigerians may soon have the opportunity to become shareholders in Dangote Petroleum Refinery as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received an application for a potential $5 billion initial public offering (IPO) by the multibillion-dollar refinery.
The proposed offering, which could become one of Nigeria’s biggest capital market transactions, is expected to give retail and institutional investors an opportunity to acquire equity in one of Africa’s largest industrial projects.
However, the final size of the IPO has not been determined, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, said the company intends to make the proposed share sale broadly accessible to Nigerians, describing it as a “people’s IPO.”
“We really want to drive participation,” Bird said in an interview with Reuters, signalling the company’s intention to encourage significant domestic ownership of the refinery.
The planned listing comes as Dangote Refinery seeks additional capital to fund a major expansion that could increase its refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day within the next three years, almost doubling its current capacity.
Bird said the expansion would be funded partly through proceeds from the IPO and additional debt.
The proposed public offering follows a major private placement in July that raised $2.5 billion and valued the refinery at approximately $40 billion.
The private placement, led by Africa Finance Corporation alongside a group of strategic investors, was reportedly 3.7 times oversubscribed, highlighting strong investor appetite for the refinery.
The transaction attracted significant interest from African and international institutional investors, reinforcing expectations that the proposed IPO could generate substantial demand.
For the Nigerian capital market, the proposed listing could deepen the equities market, increase the range of investible assets available to domestic investors and provide an avenue for Nigerians to participate directly in the growth of the refinery.
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While international investors could participate in the Nigerian offering, Dangote Refinery does not plan to pursue an immediate foreign listing.
Bird said the company wants to establish at least three years of production and financial performance before considering an overseas listing, potentially in London.
A stronger operating track record, he said, could enable the refinery to achieve a better valuation when it eventually seeks an international listing.
The company has not disclosed its valuation for the proposed IPO or confirmed the final amount it intends to raise.
Dangote Refinery is targeting a substantial expansion of its operations, with capacity expected to rise to 1.4 million barrels per day.
The company believes its access to Nigerian crude, large domestic market and integrated operations provide significant competitive advantages over many refining assets in other markets.
The refinery currently supplies a substantial portion of Nigeria’s petrol and diesel requirements and meets the country’s jet fuel needs, while also exporting refined petroleum products to markets in Africa and Europe.
Bird said the refinery became Europe’s largest supplier of jet fuel in June and July, reflecting the growing international reach of its products.
The company’s expansion plans come against the backdrop of Africa’s persistent deficit in refined petroleum products and petrochemicals, creating opportunities for Dangote Refinery to increase both domestic supply and exports.
The proposed IPO therefore represents more than a fundraising exercise for the refinery. It could mark a significant shift in ownership by allowing Nigerian investors to take direct equity positions in a strategic national asset.
If successfully executed, the offering could also become a landmark transaction for the Nigerian capital market, providing investors with access to one of the country’s largest industrial enterprises while giving Dangote Refinery fresh capital to expand production and strengthen its position in regional and global energy markets.
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