The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), has vowed to resist every attempt at introducing a Dangote Refinery monopoly into the downstream, saying that at no time any member of the association or private fuels depot has imported into the country any fuel with specification that is outside of the regulation that was approved by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Recall that management of Dangote Refinery at the weekend had stated that the NMDPRA has been granting licenses indiscriminately to marketers to import dirty refined products into the country.
But DAPPMAN in a statement on Monday, said information from the Dangote Refinery Management is laced with inaccuracies.
It stated that the association had via a letter to the NMDPRA dated June 10, 2024, warned the regulator not to ‘inadvertently promote and introduce a monopoly into the sector.
DAPPMAN said: “With stiff resistance at every attempt at introducing a Dangote Refinery monopoly into the downstream, and the fact that the latter, despite its most recent production of AGO with sulphur contents reported at 1200/ppm, it is baffling to us that the Management of Dangote Industries (including the Dangote Refinery), who are very much aware of these facts, could claim that the NMDPRA has been granting licenses indiscriminately to marketers to import ‘dirty refined products’ into the country. Their current blend of AGO, with reported sulphur contents of 1200/ppm is technically classified as ‘dirty fuel’ and grossly in excess of the 200/ppm imported by any marketer or depot owner.
“Dangote Refinery as a business entity is free to adopt any model that suits its management however its current practice of cheaper bulk sales prices to international buyers at the detriment of Nigerian buyers calls to question their patriotism to the country.
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“Several Nigerian marketers had in the recent past been offered Dangote Refinery cargoes by international trading firms at rates that are very much lower than what they were directly offered by Dangote Refinery, and this will not be in the interest of the Nigerian fuel end-user.
“There is no doubt that the success of Dangote Refinery will be a thing of pride to the nation, but all downstream operators and their activities must be in tandem with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 which abhors ‘monopoly’ of any sort.
“DAPPMAN will continue to work with all stakeholders, including Dangote Refinery willingly to provide safe, healthy fuels to all Nigerians competitively giving them great and affordable fueling options for their daily activities”.
