NMDPRA: Dangote Refinery’s Petroleum Products Inferior to Imports

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has criticized the quality of petroleum products from Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries, such as Watersmith and Aradel, noting that they are inferior to imported products.

In a recent interview with journalists, NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer Farouk Ahmed stated that the 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery has not yet received an operational license and remains in the pre-commissioning stage, approximately 45% complete.

Ahmed refuted claims that there are efforts within the oil and gas sector to undermine the Dangote Refinery. He emphasized that relying solely on the Dangote Refinery for national petroleum supply would pose risks to energy security and market stability, as it could lead to a monopoly.

In terms of quality, Ahmed highlighted that Dangote’s current diesel (AGO) has high sulfur content, falling short of the West African standard of 50 parts per million (PPM), with Dangote products ranging between 650 and 1,200 PPM. This contrasts with the higher quality of imported fuels.

This statement follows remarks by Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote, who announced that the Dangote Refinery plans to begin fuel supply in August 2024. Meanwhile, Dangote Industries Limited Vice President Devakumar Edwin had previously alleged that imported fuels are substandard and that international oil companies are hindering the refinery’s startup by selling crude at inflated prices.H

owever, these claims have been dismissed by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.