Nigeria’s biggest refinery, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has dismissed claims that it imported petrol with dangerous levels of sulphur into the country.
In a strongly-worded statement issued on Friday, the refinery said it has never imported finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol; with high sulphur content. The company described the reports as “false, malicious, and misleading,” and clarified that the shipment being referenced is actually an intermediate feedstock, not petrol ready for consumption.
Intermediate feedstock is a type of semi-processed fuel used in refineries as a raw material for producing finished products like petrol or diesel.
According to Dangote Refinery, the cargo in question will still go through a refining process at their Lagos-based facility before becoming usable fuel. The refinery added that it maintains strict quality checks in line with Nigerian and international fuel standards.
“We only sell refined fuel that meets all regulatory requirements. We don’t deal in substandard petrol,” the statement reads.
The refinery emphasized that it doesn’t just cater to Nigeria but also exports fuel to Europe and the United States, two of the most tightly regulated markets in the world. This, they say, proves their commitment to quality and environmental standards.
The company also stated that it’s ready to publish all necessary documents to back up its claims and promote transparency.
“We are committed to Nigeria’s energy independence and to delivering cleaner fuels, not just for local use but globally,” the company said.
This development comes at a time when Dangote Refinery is in the spotlight for revolutionizing fuel supply in Nigeria, with hopes of drastically reducing reliance on imported fuel.
