There has been a significant reaction after Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) rubbished Dangote oil during an interview with the media.
Farouk stated that the quality of petroleum products from the Dangote refinery as well as those from Watersmith, Aradel and other modular refineries are inferior compared to imported products.
He dismissed claims that some elements within the oil and gas sector are trying to undermine the Dangote refinery.
According to Farouk, the Dangote refinery, produces about 650,000 barrels per day, has not been issued an operational license by NMDPRA.
He mentioned that the Lagos-based refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and about 45% completed.
He noted that the country cannot solely depend on the Dangote Refinery and suspend petroleum products like Automotive Gas Oil and Dual Purpose Kerosene, DPK.
He said: “That is not so. Dangote Refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licenced yet. We haven’t licenced them yet. I think they are about 45% to complete.
“We cannot rely on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we suspend or stop imports, especially of AGO and DPK, and direct all marketers to his refinery. That is not good for the nation in terms of energy security, and it is not good for the market because of the monopoly.”
Ahmed claims that the quality of Dangote’s diesel suffers from the lowest quality in terms of sulphur content, falling short of West Africa’s requirement of 50 parts per million (PPM).
“Dangote Refinery, as well as some modular refineries like Watersmith Refinery and Aradel Refinery, are producing between 650 and 1,200 PPM. Therefore, in terms of quality, their products are inferior to imported ones,” he stated.
The NMDPRA boss made this known shortly after the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said Dangote Refinery is set to commence fuel supply in August 2024.
He also accused international oil companies of frustrating the start of the Dangote Refinery by selling crude oil at a higher price in Nigeria.
This development has sparked massive reactions from Nigerians who tackled Ahmed for rubbishing Dangote refinery despite their efforts to ensure better fuel pricing in the country.
Below are some reactions from X.
@Ollawaski2: With my minimal knowledge of economics and business, I had always said that Dangote is just a quota system, politically-enabled-monopoly. Dangote cannot run a competitive business outside the political patronage he uses to rip Nigeria and Nigerians.
How can a private business man make such requests
Richest man in Africa, we are not ready in Nigeria.
@ebuka_IBM: Something might have happened behind closed doors for them to wash the guy outside like that. It's getting interesting.
@AustinINstate: There’s something that has happened that’s making them to speak out like this. This information can’t just be ordinary. Something must happened behind doors. Let the two parties been interviewed by the media houses to find out why Dangote refinery is not completed when they said it’s completed.
@TimedFrank: As I’m here, I don’t know if it’s my eyes that is turning or my walls are moving because what did I just hear?
1. Inferior product?
2. Not yet licensed?
3. 45% completed?
4. Pre-commission stage?
5. Read number 2 again!
APC likes to play with the emotions of their supporters & defenders. First Nigeria Air and now this? Wow!
@ilivinus: This is unbelievable. I am still in shock. I am actually wondering what the noise in NASS had been about.
Much as we have hailed the need to boost production through local refining of crude, we truly cannot take the risk of having poor quality product in our markets.
We have witnessed monopolies and the danger it portends in our economy. Regulators cannot allow that to happen. At least not at this time.
@phnxleo: We don't have sulphur in our crude here in Nigeria. So he's saying Dangote's feed stock is from a country with high sulphur content, likely the Middle East.
Also, NNPC is responsible for all importation and would not want to stop feeding fat from their own supply. Time will tell.
@iamoicaro: This was meant to be the biggest and most modern refineries on the continent and one of the best in the world? What happened to that???
@EdwinAka: Not Sure everything said here is the truth...
How is it possible to build such a multi billion dollar manufacturing and quality is an issue?
There might be a very big Nigeria politics at play
If this is correct, this is very scary; Godwin Emefiele effect?
@Adewale71487522: Something is fishy somewhere. The Quality analysis he gave about the Dangote refinery isn't true. No way can you spend that amount of money to give out such Sulphur content. Sulphur content is dependent on the type of Crude inputted for refining
@Ibrahiimsmd: A Nation had a Crude Oil but Importing a Refined Oil.
Now had a Refinery and Began to Import Crude Oil. Perfect Oxymoron
Watch the video below.
General News of Friday, 19 July 2024
Source: www.mynigeria.com
