Dangote Refinery had in a statement accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of trying to undermine its refinery by allowing the importation of dirty fuel.
Petroleum marketers under the umbrella of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has debunked the allegation of Dangote Refinery that its members imported substandard and dirty fuel.
Dangote Refinery had in a statement accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of trying to undermine its refinery by allowing the importation of dirty fuel.
Dangote Refinery had claimed that licenses were being indiscriminately issued to marketers to import low-quality fuel.
However, DAPPMAN stated, “No member of our association, nor any private fuel depot, has imported fuel that does not meet the specifications currently approved by the NMDPRA.”
DAPPMAN described the information from Dangote Refinery Management as “laced with inaccuracies.”
The statement further explained that the NMDPRA had recently opposed the transfer of fuel via Ship-to-Ship operations offshore Lome, a move that was resisted by downstream operators and subsequently rescinded.
Between February and May 2024, the NMDPRA allowed the importation of AGO with a maximum sulfur content of 200 ppm.
However, the regulator later attempted to accelerate the implementation of the 50 ppm sulfur limit on PMS and AGO imports from December 31, 2024, to June 1, 2024, thereby limiting all AGO sources to Dangote Refinery.
DAPPMAN resisted this in a letter to the NMDPRA dated June 10, 2024, warning against inadvertently promoting a monopoly in the sector.
DAPPMAN noted that despite Dangote Refinery’s recent production of AGO with sulfur content at 1200 ppm, its management claimed that the NMDPRA was granting licenses for the importation of dirty refined products, saying that it found this baffling, given the refinery’s awareness of the situation.
Furthermore, DAPPMAN criticized Dangote Refinery for selling bulk quantities at lower prices to international buyers, to the detriment of Nigerian buyers, questioning their patriotism.
“Dangote Refinery is free to adopt any business model that suits its management, but its current practices call into question its commitment to the country.
“While the success of Dangote Refinery would be a national pride, all downstream operators must adhere to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which prohibits monopolies of any kind.”
DAPPMAN concluded by affirming its commitment to work with all stakeholders, including Dangote Refinery, to provide safe and healthy fuels to Nigerians at competitive prices.