By Ali Elias
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has stated that petroleum products from the Dangote refinery, Watersmith, Aradel, and other modular refineries are of lower quality compared to imported ones. NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed revealed this in a recent interview with TVC, dismissing claims that elements within the oil and gas sector are attempting to undermine the Dangote Refinery.
Ahmed clarified that the 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery has not received an operational license from NMDPRA and is still in the pre-commissioning stage, with about 45 percent completed. He emphasized that Nigeria cannot afford to depend solely on the Dangote Refinery by halting imports of petroleum products, particularly Automotive Gas Oil and Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK).
“That is not so. Dangote Refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet. We haven’t licensed them yet. I think they are about 45 per cent to completion.
“We cannot rely on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we suspend or stop imports, especially of AGO and DPK, and direct all marketers to his refinery. That is not good for the nation in terms of energy security, and it is not good for the market because of the monopoly.”
Ahmed stated that Dangote’s current Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) has the lowest quality regarding sulfur content, failing to meet West Africa’s requirement of 50 parts per million (PPM).
“Dangote Refinery, as well as some modular refineries like Watersmith Refinery and Aradel Refinery, are producing between 650 and 1,200 PPM. Therefore, in terms of quality, their products are inferior to imported ones,” he stated.
This news follows Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote’s announcement that the Dangote Refinery will begin fuel supply in August 2024.
Previously, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, claimed that most imported fuel products in Nigeria are substandard and accused international oil companies of hindering the refinery’s launch by charging higher prices for crude oil.
However, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission refuted Edwin’s claim about substandard petroleum products.