Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, announced over the weekend that since production commenced, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been receiving continuous orders from various countries for its products.
The refinery has exported oil to European nations, Singapore, and offshore Lome.
During a tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex by members of the House of Representatives, Dangote criticized the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for allegedly misrepresenting the quality of locally refined products to justify the continued importation of substandard fuel.
“I urge you to set up a committee to take samples from filling stations and compare them with our own because the test certificates being circulated are fake,” said Dangote.
Dangote emphasized the refinery’s commitment to producing high-quality diesel, stating, “We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It is disheartening that instead of protecting the market, the regulator is undermining it.”
He invited the regulator to compare Dangote’s refined products with imports, stressing, “Transparency is paramount to us.”
Supporting Dangote, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, highlighted concerns from Belgium and the Netherlands about high-sulfur diesel imported into Nigeria, leading to bans on such exports to West Africa.
Edwin assured lawmakers that the refinery meets Euro V specifications and can fully satisfy Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuel, with a surplus available for export.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abass, admired the refinery’s infrastructure and promised a thorough investigation into the quality of imported refined products.
“The refinery stands as a beacon of hope for our country as we navigate the challenges of energy supply,” he stated, commending the facility as a national pride and a testament to visionary leadership and determination.
