Dangote Refinery has dismissed claims that it imports refined petroleum products into Nigeria, stressing that all petrol, diesel and aviation fuel supplied from its operations are fully refined within the country.
The clarification was made by the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, Mr. David Bird, during a news conference held on Wednesday in Lagos, following growing allegations surrounding fuel importation and the nation’s local refining capacity.
Bird explained that substances often misconstrued as imported fuel are actually intermediate feedstocks used to optimise refinery processes. According to him, these materials are unfinished components that require further refining before they can be sold to the market.
He identified such feedstocks as high catalytic sulphur gasoline and straight-run naphtha, noting that they undergo extensive processing at the Lekki-based facility before becoming market-ready fuels. “We do not import refined fuel. Everything sold as petrol, diesel or aviation fuel is refined here in Lekki to Nigerian and international Euro-V standards,” Bird said.
The refinery boss added that the use of intermediate feedstocks is a global industry practice, common in complex and merchant refineries operating in major refining hubs such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and India.
Bird further explained that Dangote Refinery operates as a merchant refinery, unlike facilities located directly at the terminus of crude oil pipelines. As a result, it sources a variety of crude oil and feedstock grades, largely transported by sea, allowing it to fully utilise its advanced conversion units and upgrade every molecule into high-value, clean fuels and petrochemicals.
He accused some oil marketers and regulatory actors of undermining Nigeria’s local refining efforts by importing cheaper, sub-standard fuels while refusing to patronise locally refined products, warning that such practices pose risks to the country’s energy security and foreign-exchange stability.
Bird disclosed that the refinery currently supplies about 45 million litres of petrol daily to the domestic market and did not export petrol during the peak Christmas and New Year period. He said exports only occur when there is surplus supply or limited local uptake, especially during the early stages of operations.
Highlighting the health and environmental benefits of local refining, Bird noted that sulphur and metal content in fuels consumed in Nigeria have been significantly reduced, making them comparable to products used in Europe and North America.
Describing the Dangote Refinery as one of the most modern and automated facilities in the world, he said it produces high-value “white products” including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and polypropylene.
Reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment, Bird said the refinery would continue to prioritise domestic supply while positioning Nigeria as a hub for clean, world-class fuels in Africa. “West Africa should no longer be a dumping ground for inferior products. Nigeria deserves and now produces the best,” he said. (NAN)
