South Africa has become Africa’s largest petrol importer, overtaking Nigeria in a shift that signals changing energy dynamics across the continent, Business Insider Africa reported.
For years, Nigeria held the top spot despite being a major crude oil producer. Its heavy dependence on imported fuel was largely due to underperforming refineries and inefficient subsidy systems. However, this reliance declined sharply following significant reforms in the sector – most notably the launch of the Dangote Refinery in September 2024, alongside several modular refineries now operational across the country.
With a current output of 550,000 barrels per day, the Dangote facility now meets around 60% of Nigeria’s domestic petrol demand. As a result, the country’s refined fuel imports fell to 3.1 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2025 – a dramatic drop compared with previous years.
In contrast, South Africa imported 4.2 million tonnes during the same period, according to the consultancy CITAC, officially making it sub-Saharan Africa’s largest fuel importer. The country’s growing dependence on imports is driven by stagnant domestic refining capacity. Nearly half of its refining infrastructure is currently offline due to industrial accidents, delayed upgrades and long-term underinvestment.
Key refineries such as Sapref and Engen’s Durban plant remain shut, forcing the country to rely on imports for over 60% of its fuel needs, according to Transnet SOC Ltd.
CITAC also reports that crude throughput across sub-Saharan African refineries rose by nearly 78% in 2024, with daily output increasing from 382,500 barrels in 2023 to 680,100 in 2024 – growth largely attributed to the Dangote facility.
This transformation places Nigeria on a path towards greater energy self-sufficiency. CITAC projects its total refined fuel imports will fall to 6.4 million tonnes in 2025, less than half of South Africa’s projected 15.5 million tonnes. The Nigerian Economic Summit Group estimates that the country could save up to $10 billion in foreign exchange this year by reducing petrol imports.
The diverging trajectories of South Africa and Nigeria highlight the importance of infrastructure investment and policy reform in reshaping Africa’s energy landscape. While Nigeria moves towards reduced import dependence, South Africa faces growing energy vulnerability due to stalled domestic production.