President Dangote Group Aliko Dangote has advised regulators of petroleum refinery and petrochemical products to safeguard the market and should not be seen as undermining it.
He said dubious certifications accompanying the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria pose both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
He spoke as the Speaker House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas described the refinery as a beacon of hope for Nigeria, despite the myriad of challenges the group faces.
A statement Sunday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer Dangote Group Anthony Chiejina quoted the duo as saying this during a tour of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Fertiliser Ltd by Speaker Abbas and his entourage.
The statement said as part of the tour, Abbas and the team observed the testing of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) from two petrol stations alongside the refinery.
The House leadership, according to Chiejina, had insisted on testing other diesel products, alongside the Dangote’s at its state-of-the-art laboratory.
The diesel samples, he said, were procured by the members from two notable filling stations near Eleko junction along the Lekki Epe Expressway.
Chiejina said Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream, Ikeagwunon Ugochinyere, and Chairman of the House Committee on Midstream, Okojie Odianosen, monitored the collection of samples from the Mild Hydro Cracking (MHC) unit of Dangote refinery for testing of all the samples.
…Dangote fires at regulator
And speaking against the backdrop of an allegation of substandard diesel content made by Chief Executive Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Dangote said the agency’s leadership lacked sufficient knowledge of its refinery.
Farouk had alleged that Dangote refinery and other modular refineries like Waltersmith and Aradel, produced diesel with high sulphur contents.
However, in a sharp response during the visit, Dangote said the refinery produces the best diesel in Nigeria, which according to him, was of international standard.
“We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It’s disheartening that instead of safeguarding the market, the regulator is undermining it. Our doors are open for the regulator to conduct tests on our products anytime; transparency is paramount to us. It would be beneficial for the regulator to showcase its laboratory to the world so Nigerians can compare. Our interest is Nigeria’s first because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, we have limited capacity for growth.”
“Right Honourable Speaker and esteemed members; you’ve witnessed the results of the credibility test. I appreciate your wise counsel in procuring samples from the filling stations alongside our refinery’s product. Ours shows sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, approximately 88, whereas the others exceeded 1,800 ppm.
“Although the NMDPRA permits local refiners to produce diesel with sulphur content up to 650 ppm until January 2025, as approved by ECOWAS, ours is significantly lower. Next week, we aim to achieve 10 ppm, aligning with the Euro V standard. Imported diesel is capped at 50 ppm, but as you’ve seen, those from the stations, imported by major marketers, fall well outside this standard.
“Dubious certifications often accompany the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
“The best method to verify this is to purchase the product directly from filling stations where end-users obtain it. I believe Farouk Ahmed speaks without sufficient knowledge of our refinery. We have successfully exported diesel and jet fuel to Europe and Asia without any complaints; in fact, we have received repeated orders, indicating satisfaction with our products,” he further said.
…Products conform with international standard – Edwin
Also addressing the lawmakers, Vice President of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was designed to process a wide range of crudes, including various African and Middle Eastern crudes, as well as US Light Tight Oil and conformed to Euro V specifications.