Twist of fate as Dangote’s petrol, denied at home, in high demand internationally
*South Africa, 7 other countries to lift from refinery in Lagos - Media
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
When asked why marketers are insisting on not buying from Dangote despite the refinery’s capacity, the source said the dealers had hidden agenda. “However, between now and January 2025, their plan would be exposed. Dangote refinery remains the hope of this country for a sustainable supply of petrol and the refinery has the capacity to serve the entire country,” the source added.
Amidst continued excruciating unresolved hardship resulting from fuel subsidy removal, Nigerians had hoped that the coming of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company would ease the effects on the people.
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That hope was fast dashed as government of the country declared continued importation claiming that, although Dangote Refinery started production but that it had failed to meet the local needs of the Nigerian Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
It had earlier amidst the controversies, which it created, attempted to present Dangote to Nigeria and the world as producer of substandard products, which the Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, himself debunked, adding that asides his 650,000 barrel per day company having enough capacity to make Nigeria stop import, that its PMS is the purest compared to what the government was bringing into the country from refineries abroad.
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Corroborating the government, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) represents, more shocks nearly convincingly vindicating the government came as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the country joined in the vilification of Dangote, insisting on fuel importation after accusing the privately owned refinery of selling fuel to Nigerians at an exorbitant price, which Dangote had denied.
They said they had been queuing at the Lekki, Lagos refinery site of the Dangote but there was no fuel for them to be lifted, but Dangote continued to tell Nigerians and world that fuel marketers had refused to lift his products even as he added how unbearably costly it was for him to continue to keep fuel in storage, due to the attitude contributed with people within his home country.
Fortunately, PMS of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical continues to be in high demand internationally as more counties after Grenada in the Americas following state visit of its Prime Minister, Dickson Mitchell, to the refinery in Lagos, and Republic of Ghana had indicated interest to supply crude to the Nigerian oil producing company and but fuel from it, respectively.
Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenade, is also currently Chairman of the Caribbean Community CARICOM, a grouping of 15 member states aimed at driving growth in the Americas continent.
More than that, the Dangote Refinery is now set to begin fuel exports to South Africa, Angola, and Namibia, it has been gathered.
Although Dangote’s Group Director of Brand and Communication, Mr. Anthony Chiejina who was sent an enquiry on this latest development, was yet to respond as at the time of filing this report, a source said to be “highly credible” reportedly confirmed it exclusively on Friday, saying management of the 650,000-barrel per-day capacity refinery was at advanced stages of talks with the countries to start lifting its fuel.
According to the media source, it was also gathered that four other African countries – Niger Republic, which military administration recently crashed its fuel pump price from above CFA600 down to about CFA300, Chad, Burkina Faso and Central Africa Republic – had also started negotiation with the refinery.
In a PUNCH report on Saturday, it was said that more countries were being expected to signify interest in lifting fuel from the the Made-in-Nigeria refined oil product of Dangote Refinery in the coming months.
Ghana was recently reported to have expressed interest in buying petrol from the $20 billion Lekki-based refinery.
Chairman of the National Petroleum Authority, Ghana, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said the arrangement with Dangote refinery would end his country’s monthly $400m fuel imports from Europe.
“I can confirm to you that talk is actually at advance stage with Ghana, Angola, Namibia and South Africa, while initial discussion is coming up with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic,” the source said.
When asked why marketers are insisting on not buying from Dangote despite the refinery’s capacity, the source said the dealers had hidden agenda.
“However, between now and January 2025, their plan would be exposed. Dangote refinery remains the hope of this country for a sustainable supply of petrol and the refinery has the capacity to serve the entire country,” the source added.
