Aliko Dangote, the president of Dangote Group, disclosed over the weekend that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been receiving repeat orders for its products from customers who have been buying them ever since production began.
Thus far, the refinery has shipped its goods to Singapore, offshore Lome, and a few European nations.
Speaking while members of the House of Representatives were touring the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, Dangote questioned why a regulatory body like the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which is supposed to safeguard local businesses, was criticising the latter and even fabricating stories in the media to support the need to keep bringing in dirty fuel.
“I must tell you that all the test certificates people are flaunting around are fake certificates, so I urge you to even set up a committee that will take samples at filling stations and take our own sample,” he stated.
“Where are the labs that were used to do those tests? You will be able to provide Nigerians with the precise information they need to know by doing this. It is quite regrettable when a regulator tasked with safeguarding a company de-markets it.
“We were unaware that you would request that we pull over and collect samples from additional gas stations along the trip. Before we arrived and you asked to take a test, I had no idea what you hoped to accomplish.
It’s even better that your members picked up our samples on their own, and I’m sure you were taken aback by the outcome. You can tell from the outcome that we manufacture Nigeria’s best diesel.
Dangote publicly questioned the NMDPRA, the regulatory body, to compare the refined goods coming from his refinery to those coming from imports, all the while arguing for an unbiased evaluation to see what was in the best interests of Nigerians.
“In Nigeria, we make the best diesel.” It is depressing that the regulator is weakening the market rather than protecting it. Transparency is very important to us, thus we welcome the regulator to test our products at any moment.
In order for Nigerians to make comparisons, it would be advantageous for the regulator to present its laboratory to the world. Since we have limited potential for growth if Nigeria doesn’t flourish, Nigeria is of utmost importance to us.
“Distinguished members and speaker, you have seen the credibility test findings. I value your astute advice in obtaining filling station samples in addition to the product from our refinery.
“While the others had sulfur contents above 1,800 ppm, ours has a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, or roughly 88. Ours is far lower, even if the NMDPRA allows local refiners to produce diesel with a maximum sulphur concentration of 650 parts per million until January 2025, as allowed by ECOWAS.
Our goal for next week is to reach 10 ppm, which is in line with the Euro V requirement. The maximum level of imported fuel is 50 parts per million, but as you can see, large marketers’ imports of diesel from the stations go much beyond this limit, according to Dangote.
He made the observation that suspicious certifications were frequently attached to regular imports of high-sulfur diesel.
He emphasized that buying the product straight from filling stations and doing credibility testing was the best way to ensure the quality.
Dangote stated: “Dubious certifications often accompany the importation of high-sulfur diesel into Nigeria, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.” He added that the problem has caused money losses as well as health dangers for Nigerians.
Getting the product straight from the filling stations where end customers get it is the easiest way to confirm this. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of NMDPRA, seems to be speaking without having a thorough understanding of our refinery.
“Without any complaints, we have successfully exported diesel and jet fuel to Europe and Asia; in fact, we have received repeated orders, indicating that our products are well-received.”
Vice President of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, cited recent initiatives by European nations, including Belgium and the Netherlands, to bolster Dangote’s claim.
“These nations have banned the export of high-sulfur diesel fuel to West Africa due to their concerns about the carcinogenic effects of the fuel being dumped into the Nigerian market,” he said.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, built to process a wide range of crudes, including various African and Middle Eastern crudes as well as US Light Tight Oil, complies with Euro V criteria, Edwin told the visiting federal lawmakers.
He added that it was made to meet requirements set by the African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the European Commission on Air Quality, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other organizations.
Edwin stated that the $20 billion refinery can supply all of Nigeria’s needs for gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel, with excess fuel available for export, while also emphasizing that the facility’s output is of excellent quality and satisfies applicable international requirements.
In response to claims of monopoly made against the Dangote Group, the Vice President of the Group, Olakunle Alake, expressed dismay, pointing out that there are other companies in the business, such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Limited), which runs four refineries.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abass expressed worry in his remarks about the controversy surrounding the quality of imported refined products into Nigeria and said that the Green chamber will form a committee to look into the matter in detail.
The Speaker added that as part of this program, samples products from different suppliers would be tested. He expressed appreciation for the Dangote Oil Refinery’s infrastructure, calling it a valuable asset in Nigeria’s efforts to become self-sufficient in petroleum products.
He added that the refinery has established itself as a major participant, particularly at a time when worries about energy security and sustainability on a worldwide scale were critical.
“Today’s tour of the impressive Dangote Industries Oil Refinery division facilities has been incredibly educational. It has given us a unique chance to see directly the enormous progress your organization has made in changing Nigeria’s petroleum producing environment.
He remarked, “This facility’s sheer size and sophistication are astounding; it serves as a beacon of hope for our nation as we navigate the choppy waters of energy supply challenges.”
Abbas commended the petroleum refinery for implementing cutting-edge technology, calling it a brilliant example of engineering and ingenuity.
“Every area of this facility reverberates with the sounds of perseverance, hard effort, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he continued. In addition to oil, every drop generated here holds the aspirations and expectations of millions of people who long for a better future.
“What we have witnessed during this visit has left us extremely impressed and validates this industry’s ranking as the largest oil refinery in Africa.” This outstanding accomplishment represents more than just business success; it also embodies national pride and is a monument to what happens when innovative leadership and unwavering dedication come together.
While acknowledging the many difficulties that were probably faced throughout the refinery’s development, the speaker praised Dangote for his unwavering dedication to reaching excellence.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for all of the difficulties this amazing facility has faced.
The challenging economic environment we navigate, particularly in these times when our economy is struggling with foreign exchange constraints, the regulatory obstacles that frequently loom like dark clouds over progress, and the complexities surrounding crude oil supplies that can stifle even the most ambitious endeavors, are all formidable adversaries.
He said, “Yet, your unwavering commitment to excellence shines through despite these tribulations.”
