Dangote Refinery Refutes Fuel Import Claims, Says Only Fully Refined Products Supplied to Market
By GLEBM NEWS DESK
Dangote Refinery has denied importing finished petroleum products, saying it processes crude and intermediate feedstocks into fully refined fuels.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has dismissed reports suggesting that it imports finished petroleum products, describing the claims as inaccurate and based on a misunderstanding of how modern refineries operate.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, the refinery’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, David Bird, clarified that the facility refines crude oil and processes intermediate feedstocks into fully refined, market-ready fuels and petrochemicals that meet international standards.
According to Bird, the refinery does not import finished fuel for resale but, like many global operators, sometimes processes semi-finished or intermediate materials as part of standard refining operations.
“Processing intermediate or semi-processed feedstocks is a normal practice in the global refining industry,” Bird said. “This does not amount to importing finished petroleum products.”
He explained that the refinery operates under a European and Asian merchant refinery model that combines advanced refining, blending, and trading systems to meet modern quality and environmental requirements.
Bird noted that Dangote’s gasoline and diesel products are produced to meet strict specifications, including low sulphur levels and the elimination of harmful additives.
“Our gasoline is lead-free and MMT-free with 50 parts per million sulphur, while our diesel meets ultra-low sulphur standards,” he said. “These standards help reduce emissions, protect engines, and safeguard public health.”
During the session, the company displayed samples of intermediate feedstocks and finished fuels to illustrate the difference between semi-processed inputs and final products ready for retail distribution. Bird emphasised that semi-finished materials are unsuitable for vehicles and are not supplied to the Nigerian market.
The refinery also stated that its establishment was aimed at addressing Nigeria’s longstanding dependence on imported refined products and exposure to substandard fuel quality. The company said its fuels now meet international benchmarks and are being exported to other markets, demonstrating competitiveness and compliance with global standards.
Industry experts note that intermediate materials such as naphtha, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, and alkylate are commonly used worldwide as feedstocks for further refining into petrol, diesel, and petrochemical products.
Dangote Refinery maintained that its operations remain focused on producing high-quality, locally refined fuels to support Nigeria’s energy security and reduce reliance on external supply chains.
— GLEBM News
