… Says Diesel 80% Better Compared To Imported Product
President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has dismissed allegations by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), saying categorically that DIL’s diesel is 80 per cent better compared to the products that are imported into the country.
Dangote disclosed this on Saturday when he led members of the House of Representatives on a tour of the facilities in the refinery.
The Africa richest man called on the House of Representatives to constitute a committee to verify the company’s production.
Speaking further Dangote said , “Regarding diesel quality, we started with 600–700 PPM because it was a new plant. Now, our production is at 87 PPM, and by the end of August, it will be at 10 PPM. I invite the leadership of the House to set up a committee to take samples from fueling stations and our production line to verify quality. All the test certificates being circulated could be fake, and it’s essential to have a reliable testing process.”
Recall that the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority(NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, alleged in a recent interview with journalists that the 650,000 BPD Dangote refinery has not been licensed and that the product is of low quality compared to the imported product.
He also claimed that both the Dangote refinery and some modular refineries’ current AGO (diesel) are inferior in quality compared to others.
Speaking, the Dangote Refinery spokesman, Anthony Chiejine, argued that the allegation made by the NMDPRA was baseless as the company’s diesel production is at its lowest level of sulphur.
According to Chiejine, “Until late last year, diesel imports into Nigeria were up to 7,000 Parts Per Million (PPM) of Sulphur which has been going on for many years. Our diesel is produced currently at significantly lower levels of Sulphur; as such, we find baseless the allegation that the reason for the reduction is linked to quality. What we are producing is 80 percent of what is being imported into the country.”
He continued, “Another inaccurate assertion is that Medium Level Sulphur diesel is meant for off-road use. This is a completely false statement, as this would have invariably meant that all the imports for the last 20 years have been damaging equipment.
“Thirdly, diesel imports for the high sulphur grade have been at significantly higher prices until we started operation. If indeed high Sulphur diesel is sold at lower prices, how come we never saw the lower prices until now?” he added.
About The Author
