- Dangote Petroleum Refinery raises alarm over a nearby depot allegedly blending substandard fuel, threatening consumer safety and industry integrity
- Group Chief Communications Officer Anthony Chiejina accuses marketers offering lower prices of colluding with international traders to import inferior products
- Dangote refinery asserts competitive pricing for high-quality fuel, urging consumers to remain vigilant against substandard offerings
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised concerns about a new depot, reportedly leased by an unnamed international trading company, which is blending substandard petroleum products in Nigeria.
This facility, reported to be located near the refinery, is allegedly being used to produce low-quality fuel intended for sale in the local market, putting consumers and the integrity of the refining industry at risk.
In a statement released on Sunday, November 3, Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, highlighted the dangers posed by these practices.
He claimed that the blending of substandard fuel threatens public safety and the reputation of the domestic refining sector.
The statement was made in response to recent claims by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and other groups asserting that imported fuel prices are lower than those set by the Dangote refinery.
According to recent reports, the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, produced by the Dangote refinery ranges from N1,015 to N1,028 per litre, depending on the quantity purchased.
Dangote's statement contended that marketers offering lower prices are likely importing inferior products in collusion with international traders, undermining the quality and safety of fuel available in Nigeria.
“If anyone claims they can land PMS at a price cheaper than what we are selling, then they are importing substandard products and conniving with international traders to dump low-quality products into the country,” Chiejina said.
He further alleged that the new depot’s operations aim to create unfair competition against the Dangote refinery's high-quality products.
The statement also criticised the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for its inability to detect these substandard products due to a lack of operational laboratory facilities.
In terms of pricing strategy, the Dangote refinery announced it is currently selling petrol at N960 per litre for shipments and N990 per litre for truck deliveries.
This pricing is competitive compared to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which set its prices at N971 for ship sales and N990 for truck deliveries.
Chiejina emphasised that protecting local industries is crucial for economic growth, drawing parallels to practices in the US and Europe, where high tariffs are imposed to safeguard domestic production.
He urged the public to ignore misinformation aimed at discrediting the refinery's operations and highlighted the company's commitment to providing high-quality, affordable fuel.
Oil marketers secure tank farms for petrol imports amid supply challenges from Dangote refinery
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria reportedly acquired tank farms in Calabar and Lagos for petrol importation.
Festus Osifo of the Trade Union Congress emphasised the need for alternative petrol sources amid production shortfalls.
