Dangote Refinery Products Inferior To Imported Ones— NMDPRA reveals

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, has advised Nigerians to be cautious about relying heavily on products from the Dangote refinery.

Ahmed expressed concerns about the consistency and standardization of the refinery’s output, stating that the quality of its products is inferior compared to imported products.

Addressing issues related to the nationwide supply of petroleum products, Ahmed refuted media claims suggesting that the regulatory agency was attempting to undermine the Dangote Refinery.

He clarified that the refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and has not yet been licensed. “We haven’t been licensed yet,” Ahmed stated, noting that the refinery is about 45% complete.

Ahmed emphasized that it is not advisable for the nation to depend on a single refinery for its petroleum needs. He highlighted that Dangote has requested the suspension of imports, particularly of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Dual-Purpose Kerosene (DPK), directing 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 revealed.

In terms of quality, Ahmed pointed out that Dangote’s current AGO does not meet West Africa’s requirement of 50 parts per million (PPM) sulfur content. He stated that the refinery produces between 650 to 1,200 PPM, which is significantly higher than the required standard. “Therefore, in terms of quality, their products are inferior to imported ones,” he concluded.