The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has vehemently denied allegations of reselling shipments of crude oil, countering a recent Reuters report that suggested the refinery was facing significant operational challenges.
The report, published on Thursday, claimed that technical issues at the refinery had led to the reselling of crude oil shipments from the United States and Nigeria. Reuters cited unnamed sources, alleging the refinery was offering various grades of crude, including US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Midland and Nigerian Escravos and Forcados crudes. While rare, the report noted that such reselling practices are not without precedent.
In a robust rebuttal, Anthony Chiejina, Chief Branding and Communication Officer for Dangote Group, dismissed the claims as baseless. “Our attention has been drawn to a misleading report regarding our crude distillation unit and the unfounded allegation that we are offering crude for resale,” Chiejina stated emphatically. He underscored that the refinery is not authorized to sell any of the crude it acquires from Nigeria and assured that the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) is operating efficiently.
Chiejina urged the public to disregard what he described as false narratives aimed at discrediting the refinery’s reputation.
The controversy has intensified amid ongoing regulatory disputes. On June 4, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, revealed difficulties in securing crude supplies from international oil companies (IOCs). These claims were refuted by Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), on July 15, who emphasized that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provides for transactions between willing buyers and sellers.
Adding to the tension, on July 17, Dangote Industries Limited accused IOCs of obstructing its efforts to procure crude. This accusation was followed by a statement from Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), criticizing the quality of products from local refineries, including Dangote’s, as inferior to imported ones.
In response, Dangote firmly refuted allegations of producing substandard products on July 20, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards.
The Dangote Refinery, a monumental project poised to transform Nigeria’s oil industry, continues to navigate these turbulent waters, standing resolute in its mission to meet the country’s energy needs with excellence.
PIONEER NEWS 