Sulphur content controversy in Dangote diesel persists

The ongoing debate regarding the sulphur content in diesel produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has yet to be resolved. Reports surfaced over the weekend alleging that the diesel supplied by the $20 billion refinery contains high levels of sulphur. This report outlines the key developments and responses from various stakeholders.

Key Allegations:
– Online reports claimed that the diesel from Dangote Refinery has a high sulphur content.
– Oil marketers, however, reported no complaints from consumers regarding the quality of the diesel.

Stakeholder Responses:
1. Oil Marketers:
– Abubakar Maigandi, National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, stated that no complaints had been received from motorists or industrial consumers since the distribution of Dangote diesel began.

2. Dangote Group:
– A senior official from the Dangote Group dismissed the allegations as baseless, attributing them to a campaign aimed at undermining the refinery.
– Aliko Dangote and company officials previously accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority (NMDPRA) of importing substandard fuel.
– Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, claimed the NMDPRA is allowing the importation of high-sulphur diesel from Russia and emphasized that Dangote is producing fuel that meets international standards.

3. NMDPRA:
– Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed refuted the allegations, asserting that Dangote diesel has higher sulphur content than imported alternatives.
– Ahmed mentioned that the refinery is still in its pre-commissioning stage and is only 45% complete.

4. House of Representatives:
– During a tour led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, laboratory tests reportedly showed that diesel from the Dangote refinery had a sulphur content of 87.6 ppm, significantly lower than the 1,800 ppm and 2,000 ppm levels found in samples from other stations.

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Recent Developments:
– Online reports claimed that diesel batches supplied by Dangote between April and July had high sulphur content.
– A Dangote Group official suggested these reports were part of a smear campaign, describing them as based on fake documents.
– The NMDPRA spokesperson, George Ene-Ita, mentioned that 15 engineers and scientists are monitoring the refinery, but their reports have not been made public.

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs):
– A coalition of CSOs plans to monitor the compliance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) with a presidential directive to sell crude oil to Dangote refinery in naira.
– Solomon Adodo of Rise Up for A United Nigeria expressed support for the refinery and criticized government regulators for siding with fuel importers.

International Interest:
– Edwin noted that foreign nations, including Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, have invited Dangote to establish refineries, offering steady crude supply. However, Dangote has remained committed to operating in Nigeria.

As the Dangote refinery prepares to start selling petrol within a week, it has received support from President Bola Tinubu, who has directed the NNPCL to sell crude to the refinery in naira. The controversy over sulphur content highlights the complex dynamics and challenges within Nigeria’s petroleum industry. The situation continues to evolve, with various stakeholders actively responding to the allegations and defending their positions.