The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has pointed that the diesel refined at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, are of superior quality and meets international standard. Dangote stated this while making a comparison to imported equivalents into the country.
This was contained in a statement issued by the company’s media team on Sunday.
According to the statement, Dangote expressed his confidence over the quality of the diesel produced in his refinery in Lagos.
Dangote stated this while receiving members of the House of Representatives who were on oversight function at the refinery on Saturday.
Dangote who insisted on testing other diesel products, alongside Dangote’s diesel at its state-of-the-art laboratory, pointed that his product was superior and of international standard.
According to Channels TV, “During a tour of both Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Dangote Fertilizer Limited complex, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and other members who observed the testing of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) from two petrol stations alongside Dangote Petroleum Refinery, praised the company for its significant investments and contributions to Nigeria’s development.
It said, “The diesel samples were procured from two well-known filling stations near Eleko Junction along the Lekki Epe Expressway, by the honourable members. Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream, Hon. Ikeagwunon Ugochinyere, and Chairman of the House Committee on Midstream, Hon. Okojie Odianosen, oversaw the collection of samples from the Mild Hydro Cracking (MHC) unit of Dangote refinery for testing of all the samples.
“Lab tests revealed that Dangote’s diesel had a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm (parts per million). Whereas, the other two samples showed sulphur levels exceeding 1800 ppm and 2000 ppm respectively.”
Reacting, Dangote emphasized that these findings have debunked claims made by Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority. Ahmed had recently asserted that imported diesel surpasses domestically refined products.
Recall that Ahmed had alleged that Dangote refinery and other modular refineries like Waltersmith and Aradel produced diesel with sulphur content ranging from 650 to 1200 ppm.
The statement was criticized by many Nigerians as a tactic to favour imported products over local ones.
But to prove that Ahmed was wrong, “Dangote openly challenged the regulator to compare the quality of refined products from his refinery with those imported.
“He advocated for an impartial assessment to determine what best serves the interests of Nigerians.
“We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It’s disheartening that instead of safeguarding the market, the regulator is undermining it.
“Our doors are open for the regulator to conduct tests on our products anytime; transparency is paramount to us. It would be beneficial for the regulator to showcase its laboratory to the world so Nigerians can compare. Our interest is Nigeria first. Because if Nigeria doesn’t grow, we have limited capacity for growth.
Addressing the Rep members after the test, Dangote said, “Right Honourable Speaker and esteemed members, you’ve witnessed the results of the credibility test. I appreciate your wise counsel in procuring samples from the filling stations alongside our refinery’s product.
“Ours shows a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, approximately 88, whereas the others exceeded 1,800 ppm. Although the NMDPRA permits local refiners to produce diesel with sulphur content up to 650 ppm until January 2025, as approved by ECOWAS, ours is significantly lower.
“Next week, we aim to achieve 10 ppm, aligning with the Euro V standard. Imported diesel is capped at 50 ppm. But as you’ve seen, those from the stations, imported by major marketers, fall well outside this standard.”
Dangote added that high-sulphur content diesel regularly imported into the country often comes with dubious certifications.
He stressed that the most effective method to verify the quality is to purchase the product directly from filling stations. And to conduct credibility tests. According to him, this issue has resulted in both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
“Dubious certifications often accompany the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria. Thereby, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians,” Dangote stated.
“The best method to verify this is to purchase the product directly from filling stations where end-users obtain it.
“I believe Farouk Ahmed speaks without sufficient knowledge of our refinery. We have successfully exported diesel and jet fuel to Europe and Asia without any complaints. In fact, we have received repeated orders, indicating satisfaction with our products,” Dangote said.
To support Dangote’s assertion, the Vice President of Gas and Oil at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, highlighted recent actions by European countries like Belgium and the Netherlands.
“These countries have expressed concerns about the carcinogenic effects of high-sulphur diesel being dumped into the Nigerian market. Prompting them to impose bans on such fuel exports to West Africa,” Edwin said.
The Vice President, therefore, informed the federal lawmakers that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery was designed to process a wide range of crudes. These include various African and Middle Eastern crudes, as well as US Light Tight Oil, conforms to Euro V specifications.
In addition, he added that it is designed to comply with US EPA and European emission norms. It also meets Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms, and African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards.
Edwin noted that products from the $20 billion facility are of high quality and meet international standards. He stated that the refinery can meet 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, and kerosene. The facility also produces aviation Jet, with surpluses available for export.
In his remark, the Group’s VP, Olakunle Alake, expressed disappointment over accusations of monopoly against the Dangote Group. He noted that there are multiple players in the industry, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL. He pointed that NNPCL, alone operates four refineries.
source: Channels TV
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