Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, announced over the weekend that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been consistently receiving repeat orders for its products since production began. The refinery’s products have already been exported to European countries, Singapore, and offshore locations like Lome.
During a recent visit by members of the House of Representatives to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex, Dangote expressed concern over statements made by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). He urged the National Assembly to conduct tests on all available products from a certified laboratory to counter the NMDPRA’s claims.
Dangote emphasized, “I urge you to even set up a committee that will take samples at filling stations and take our own sample because I must tell you that all the test certificates people are flaunting around are fake certificates.”
He criticized the regulator for undermining local industries by spreading misinformation and supporting the importation of substandard fuel. Dangote highlighted the importance of transparency, inviting regulators to test the refinery’s products anytime to verify their quality.
According to Dangote, the refinery’s diesel has a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, significantly lower than the 650 ppm limit permitted by NMDPRA until 2025. He also mentioned that the refinery aims to achieve 10 ppm, aligning with the Euro V standard. In contrast, imported diesel often exceeds acceptable sulphur content levels.
“The best method to verify this is to purchase the product directly from filling stations where end-users obtain it. I believe Farouk Ahmed (Chief Executive of NMDPRA) speaks without sufficient knowledge of our refinery,” Dangote added.
Supporting this, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, mentioned concerns from European countries like Belgium and The Netherlands about the carcinogenic effects of high-sulphur diesel dumped into the Nigerian market. These countries have imposed bans on such fuel exports to West Africa.
Edwin stated that the refinery, capable of processing various crude oils and meeting Euro V specifications, complies with international and regional standards, including those set by the US EPA and the African Refiners and Distribution Association.
The refinery, a $20 billion facility, can fulfill 100% of Nigeria’s petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel needs, with surplus products available for export.
The Group’s Vice President, Olakunle Alake, refuted accusations of monopoly against Dangote Group, highlighting the presence of multiple players in the industry, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Limited).
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the quality of imported refined products and announced the establishment of a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly.
During his remarks, Abass praised the infrastructure at the Dangote Oil Refinery, describing it as a significant asset for Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in petroleum products. He noted the refinery’s potential in addressing global energy security and sustainability concerns.
“Today’s visit to the magnificent facilities of Dangote Industries Oil Refinery section has been nothing short of enlightening. It has afforded us a rare opportunity to witness first-hand the monumental strides your organisation has made in transforming the landscape of petroleum production in Nigeria,” Abass said.
Commending the refinery’s state-of-the-art technology, Abass highlighted the challenges overcome during its construction and lauded Dangote’s unwavering commitment to excellence.
“We are deeply impressed by what we have seen during this visit which confirms the rating of this industry as the single largest oil refinery in Africa. This remarkable achievement does not merely reflect corporate success, it symbolises national pride,” Abass added.
