The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused certain vested interests in the oil and gas sector of attempting to undermine its operations, particularly regarding its planned deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for fuel distribution.
In an advertorial published on Sunday, the company asserted that its decision to initiate direct petrol supply across Nigeria starting September 15 has been met with deliberate misinformation.
On September 11, the refinery announced the initiative, but the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) dismissed it as a “Greek gift.” Two days later, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) also criticized the refinery’s promise of free petrol delivery, insisting that marketers must lift at least 25 percent of their allocations directly from the refinery’s gantry.
In response to this criticism, the refinery stated that the reactions were not rooted in unionization concerns but represented “a calculated campaign of economic sabotage.”
The statement read, “From the outset, it has been evident that certain actors are intent on undermining the operations of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, particularly the planned deployment of CNG-powered trucks for the distribution of fuel. This innovation has been widely recognized as a transformative step towards Nigeria’s long-sought goal of energy self-sufficiency.”
It further claimed that DAPPMAN’s intervention was merely a “face-saving attempt to divert attention from the real issues.”
The refinery also reminded the public of the controversy surrounding adulterated fuel in 2022, noting that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) reported that one of DAPPMAN’s members had supplied petrol containing over 15% methanol, leading to widespread engine damage for thousands of users.
The statement continued, “Yet, no transparent government inquiry or independent investigation was ever conducted.”
Additionally, the refinery alleged that the certification of imported petroleum products is riddled with irregularities, stating, “The so-called certificates of quality, if subjected to an independent forensic audit, would not match up to industry standards which form the basis for actual pricing templates of the products.”
On the issue of supply, the refinery refuted claims that it only meets 35 percent of national demand, arguing that regulators have failed to publish transparent consumption data or enforce quota allocations as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act.
It also dismissed suggestions that petrol prices are cheaper in Togo, stating, “A straightforward check reveals that the average pump price in Lomé stands at approximately 680 CFA francs per litre, equivalent to ₦1,826.”
The refinery emphasized that Nigeria has now been positioned as a primary source of affordable petrol feedstock for West Africa, despite importing over 60 percent of the crude it processes.
Furthermore, Dangote refinery characterized the ongoing unionization dispute as a “cheap ploy” by groups opposed to reform. On September 9, NUPENG had suspended its strike against the refinery’s alleged anti-union stance but threatened fresh action two days later, escalating tensions between the refinery and industry unions.
#DangoteRefinery #CNG #FuelDistribution #NUPENG #DAPPMAN #EconomicSabotage #NigerianOil #PetrolSupply
