Energy
We’re Receiving Repeated Orders From Abroad – Dangote Refinery
. . . Urges National Assembly To Random-Test Available Products From Standard Laboratory To Renounce NMDPRA’s Assertions
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, over the weekend revealed that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been receiving repeated orders for its products from all those who have purchased same since the commencement of production.
Biztellers reports that the refinery has so far exported its products to some European countries, Singapore and offshore Lome.
Dangote made the disclosure during a tour of both Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and the Dangote Fertiliser Limited complex by members of the House of Representatives.
He wondered why a regulatory authority like the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that ought to protect local industries would be castigating the latter and even lying in media reports to justify the need to continue importation of dirty fuel into Nigeria.
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According to him, “I urge you to even set up a committee that will take samples at filling stations and take our own sample, because I must tell you that all the test certificates people are flaunting around are fake certificates. Where are the laboratories where those tests were conducted? By doing this, you will be able to tell Nigerians the very truth that they deserve to know. Demarketing of a company by a regulator that it is supposed to protect it, is very unfortunate.
“We didn’t know that you were going to ask us to stop by the road and take samples from other filling stations. I didn’t know what you wanted to do until we got here and you requested for a test. It is even good that it is your members that went directly to get our samples and I am sure you were shocked by the result. With the result, you can see that we produce the best diesel in Nigeria.”
Dangote openly challenged the regulator, NMDPRA to compare the quality of refined products from his petroleum refinery with those imported, while advocating for an impartial assessment to determine what best serves the interests of Nigerians.
“We produce the best diesel in Nigeria. It is 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.
“Right Honourable Speaker and esteemed members, you have 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 have seen, those from the stations, imported by major marketers, fall well outside this standard,” Dangote observed.
He pointed out that high-sulphur content diesel regularly imported into the country often comes with dubious certifications. He emphasised that the most effective method to verify the quality is to purchase the product directly from filling stations and conduct credibility tests. According to him, this issue has resulted in both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
He added that “Dubious certifications often accompany the importation of high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, causing both health risks and financial losses for Nigerians.
“The best method to verify this is to purchase the product directly from filling stations where end-users obtain it. I believe Farouk Ahmed (Chief Executive of NMDPRA) 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.”
Supporting Dangote’s assertion, 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”, he said.
Edwin informed the visiting federal lawmakers that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, was designed to process a wide range of crudes including various African and Middle Eastern crudes, as well as US Light Tight Oil, and conforms to Euro V specifications.
In addition, he pointed out that it was designed to comply with the US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), European emission norms, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms, and the African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards.
Noting that products from the $20 billion facility are of high quality which meet international standards, Edwin said it has the capacity to meet 100% of Nigeria’s demand for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and aviation Jet, with surpluses available for export.
The Group’s Vice President, Olakunle Alake, expressed disappointment over accusations of monopoly against the Dangote Group.
He stressed that there are multiple players in the industry, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), which operates four refineries.
Expressing concern over the controversy surrounding the quality of imported refined products into Nigeria, the Reps Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abass stated that the Green Chamber would establish a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly.
He emphasised that sampled products from various sources would undergo testing as part of this initiative.
The Speaker also expressed admiration for the infrastructure at the Dangote Oil Refinery, describing it as a significant asset in Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in petroleum products.
Hon Abass noted that the refinery already positioned itself as a pivotal player, especially at a time when global concerns over energy security and sustainability are paramount.
“Today’s visit to the magnificent facilities of Dangote Industries Oil Refinery section has been nothing short of enlightening. It has afforded us a rare opportunity to witness first-hand the monumental strides that your organisation has made in transforming the landscape of petroleum production in Nigeria. The sheer scale and sophistication of this facility are awe-inspiring; it stands as a beacon of hope for our country as we navigate through the turbulent waters of energy supply challenges,” he said.
On the state-of-the-art technology in place at the petroleum refinery, Hon Abbas praised it as revolutionary and a shining example of engineering and innovation excellence.
“Each corner of this facility resonates with the echoes of hard work, dedication, and an unyielding pursuit of quality. It is evident that every drop produced here carries not just oil but also the hopes and dreams of millions who yearn for a brighter future. We are deeply impressed by what we have seen during this visit which confirms the rating of this industry as the single largest oil refinery in Africa. This remarkable achievement does not merely reflect corporate success; it symbolises national pride, a tribute to what can be accompanied when visionary leadership meets relentless determination,” he noted.
Acknowledging the numerous challenges likely encountered during the construction of the refinery, the Speaker lauded Dangote for his steadfast commitment to achieving excellence.
“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the myriad challenges that have beset this remarkable facility. The regulatory hurdles that often loom like dark clouds over progress, the complexities surrounding crude oil supplies that can stifle even the most ambitious endeavours, and the daunting economic landscape we navigate especially in these times when our economy grapples with foreign exchange constraints, are all formidable adversaries. Yet, despite these tribulations, your unwavering commitment to excellence shines through,” he attested.
Brent crude closed above $90 per barrel on Monday as Iran threatened to launch a military offensive in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomatic efforts to end its war with the United States fail.
The benchmark Brent crude was quoted at $90.53 per barrel as of Monday evening, gaining $2.01, or 2.27 per cent, according to oilprice.com. US West Texas Intermediate crude also climbed to $84.25 per barrel, up $1.85, or 2.25 per cent.
According to Reuters, the rise followed renewed tensions around the strategic Strait of Hormuz after a senior Iranian official told the news agency that Tehran had shifted its policy from defensive to “fully offensive” because of a deadlock in efforts to secure a permanent end to the war.
The official said Iran was prepared to take military action in the Strait of Hormuz if diplomatic efforts failed. “Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions,” the official told Reuters.
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He added that Tehran would conduct a “timely and precise” military attack to break the United States naval blockade if diplomacy failed.
The development threatens to further disrupt tanker movements through Hormuz, a key global energy corridor, at a time when efforts to restore oil traffic through the waterway have stalled.
According to Reuters, progress towards peace talks and the resumption of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has ground to a halt, with neither side showing signs of moving towards an end to the conflict.
The latest escalation came on the day Iran and the United States were expected to reach a final agreement under a memorandum of understanding signed in June.
The June 17 memorandum provided a 60-day timeframe for Washington and Tehran to reach a broader agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear programme and US sanctions.
The interim agreement, which called for the “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”, however, quickly collapsed over disagreements concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The waterway, which is shared by Iran and Oman, is a major route for global energy supplies. It was reported that about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed through the strait before the war.
Tehran maintains that the June agreement gave it the right to manage the waterway, while Washington rejected that interpretation.
The dispute subsequently contributed to the resumption of hostilities, with Iran firing on vessels it said were attempting to sail through the strait using an unauthorised route.
US President Donald Trump subsequently declared on July 7 that the agreement was over.
The Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had now given the United States only a short period to implement all the provisions of the agreement before further negotiations could take place.
“Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement’s provisions must be implemented by the U.S. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the US,” the official said.
Mediators are expected to communicate Iran’s deadline to Washington and other regional countries. Iran is also separately negotiating with Oman over the management of the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying the two countries are close to an agreement despite slow progress.
The situation was further complicated by Trump’s warning to Oman during a phone interview with Fox News on Monday. “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump said, according to Reuters.
Earlier, Trump said Iran should surrender, telling Fox News that Tehran “should put up the white flag of surrender”. The renewed threats have heightened concerns over the security of shipping through Hormuz and helped push crude prices higher on Monday.
The price movement also comes after oil had traded below the $80 mark earlier in the month amid expectations that tensions around the waterway could ease. Monday’s Brent price of $90.53 therefore represented a fresh rise above the $90 threshold, while WTI stood at $84.25 per barrel.
A call has been made for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector and other industry stakeholders to maximise the economic and industrial opportunities presented by compressed natural gas (CNG) in Nigeria.
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National CNG Forum (NCNG-F) made the call when a delegation of the National CNG Forum, led by its chairman, Faruk Abdullahi, visited the NADDC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
The delegation was on a mission to discuss the future of CNG and its growing importance to the development and transformation of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Speaking during the engagement, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, highlighted Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources and the economic advantages of CNG as alternative fuel.
Osanipin noted that CNG is cheaper to maintain and more sustainable than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), stressing that its wider adoption could significantly reduce the cost of mobility while delivering broader economic benefits to the country.
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According to the NADDC DG, Nigeria’s transition to CNG goes beyond changing the type of fuel used by vehicles, as it also presents an opportunity to stimulate industrial development, create jobs and strengthen the country’s automotive sector.
He said the potential benefits of CNG could only be fully realised through the collective efforts of government, the private sector, industry stakeholders and relevant organisations capable of bringing together the challenges, opportunities and practical solutions required to build a sustainable CNG ecosystem.
Osanipin therefore called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that the CNG transition delivers cleaner and more affordable mobility while promoting local manufacturing, skills development, innovation and employment generation.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National CNG Forum, Faruk Abdullahi, expressed confidence in a fruitful partnership with the Council towards the successful implementation of Nigeria’s CNG policy.
Abdullahi identified technical standards and quality assurance, local content and indigenous manufacturing, skills development, and research and innovation as key areas where the NADDC and NCNG-F could collaborate.
He described the NADDC as a strategic partner in the development of Nigeria’s automotive and CNG ecosystem, stressing that the transition to CNG must go beyond a change of fuel and become a catalyst for automotive industrialisation, local content development, skills acquisition, innovation and job creation.
The NCNG-F Chairman added that the National CNG Forum was committed to bringing the practical experience and perspectives of industry stakeholders to the table while supporting the objectives of the Federal Government.
Abdullahi also emphasised the need for stronger cooperation between government agencies and the private sector to address existing challenges and maximise the opportunities created by CNG.
The engagement, therefore, underscored the shared commitment of both organisations to developing a robust CNG ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s clean and affordable mobility goals while strengthening local automotive manufacturing and contributing to wider economic development.
The United Arab Emirates’ state-owned oil giant ADNOC said Saturday one of its vessels came under attack in the Hormuz strait, the latest incident in the waterway at the centre of the US-Iran conflict.
Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies, carrying out strikes on commercial ships since the war began in February.
The Islamic republic has said it wants to charge users for passage, which Washington fiercely opposes.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) “confirmed that one of its vessels was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of Friday, August 14”, according to the official WAM news agency, but reported no injuries.
In its statement, ADNOC stressed the importance of protecting seafarers and safeguarding freedom of navigation and maritime security.
After the attack, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the Gulf state would defend its “rights to freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The repeated targeting of ADNOC tankers will not deter the UAE from pursuing a balanced and prudent policy based on the three pillars of deterrence, diplomacy, and adherence to international law,” he wrote in a post on X.
“We will exert every effort to strengthen a unified Gulf position, as it is a fundamental pillar for protecting the security of the region and the interests of its member states in this ongoing crisis.”
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The announcement came a day after the UAE accused Iran of attacking two vessels linked to ADNOC as they passed through the strait.
The UAE foreign ministry condemned what it called a “hostile Iranian attack” on the vessels and said no injuries had been reported.
Last week, ADNOC reported that three of its tankers had been attacked in the waterway, while the Emirati foreign ministry separately announced an attack on another ADNOC tanker a day later.
Continued attacks in the strait, which was free to transit before the Middle East war began, led to the collapse of an April ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
A June deal — meant to serve as a jumping-off point for negotiations on a permanent settlement — had said Iran and Oman, also bordering the waterway, would hash out future arrangements for the strait in discussion with other Gulf countries and “in line with the applicable international law”.
Last week, Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr set out a series of conditions for reopening the strait fully, including an end to what he described as war against Iran and its regional allies, the lifting of sanctions and compensation for wartime damage.
Courtesy – AFP
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