Dangote Refinery Dismisses Import Claims, Reaffirms Commitment to Euro-Standard Fuel
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP) has strongly refuted claims suggesting that it imports finished petroleum products, describing the allegations as false, misleading, and based on a fundamental misunderstanding of global refinery operations.
The company clarified that, as a state-of-the-art large-scale merchant refinery, DPRP refines crude oil and processes intermediate feedstocks into premium petroleum products and petrochemicals that meet the highest international quality and environmental standards.
Speaking during a media briefing at the refinery, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, David Bird, explained that the processing of intermediate or semi-processed materials is a globally accepted practice in modern refining and does not constitute the importation of finished petroleum products.
According to Bird, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery operates on a European and Asian merchant refinery model, integrating advanced refining, blending, and trading systems designed to meet contemporary environmental, health, and performance benchmarks.
“DPRP produces high-quality fuels that align with international environmental and health standards. Our gasoline is lead-free and MMT-free, with sulphur levels at 50 parts per million, while our diesel meets ultra-low sulphur specifications. These standards reduce emissions, protect vehicle engines, and safeguard public health,” Bird said.
He further reaffirmed that the refinery supplies only fully refined, market-ready petroleum products, stressing that semi-finished fuels are unsuitable for vehicles and are never released into the Nigerian market. To demonstrate this distinction, samples of both intermediate feedstocks and fully refined products were presented to journalists during the briefing.
Bird noted that the Dangote Refinery was established to end Nigeria’s long-standing exposure to substandard fuels by delivering products that meet stringent global standards. He added that DPRP’s products are already being exported to international markets, underscoring their quality and competitiveness.
Explaining the refining process, Bird said intermediate materials such as naphtha, straight-run gas oil, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, alkylate, and isomerate serve as feedstock for further refining into finished products, including petrol, diesel, and petrochemicals.
He stressed the refinery’s commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, urging the media to help educate the public on the clear distinction between intermediate feedstocks and finished fuels.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals are deliberately spreading misleading narratives about a refinery that has transformed Nigeria and the wider West African region from a dumping ground for substandard fuel into a hub for high-quality petroleum products,” Bird stated.
Bird also highlighted that the refinery’s flexible design enables it to process a wide range of crude oils and intermediate feedstocks into premium finished fuels.
Assuring Nigerians of sustained product availability, he said the refinery has played a significant role in easing fuel scarcity, stabilising the naira, and reducing pressure on foreign exchange.
Also speaking, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, urged journalists to exercise precision in their choice of terminology, warning that inaccurate reporting could mislead the public and create unnecessary anxiety.
