Fuel Import: FG Working Against Local Refineries

In an interview with journalists in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Farouk was alleged to have made a statement regarding the quality of diesel produced by certain local refineries, which he described as inferior to imported diesel, a statement that has caused distress among local refiners.

He claimed that the international oil companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited were not providing sufficient crude oil to the Dangote refinery and the modular refineries, further stating that the accusations made by the NMDPRA against local refiners were unwarranted.

So much so that he even ridicules his own agency’s processes when he refers to the petroleum products produced by refineries that his agency closely regulates as inferior, thereby undermining the country’s health and safety procedures.

In response to the regulatory stance, the Indigenous crude oil refiners have declared that the government’s position appears to favour imported fuels over local production.

This has huge implications for the oil and gas industry, and energy security in Nigeria.” The NMDPRA boss had stated that Dangote Refinery had requested the regulator to stop giving import licences to other marketers to be the only fuel supplier in Nigeria.

“In the last few days, we have had a barrage of misinformation thrown at the indigenous refineries, including Dangote, Aradel, Waltersmith, and our other members, from detractors and elements working against the country’s quest to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic petroleum refining.

The government has also cautioned against excessive reliance on the $20 billion refinery in the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos, emphasizing that the refinery’s demand for all oil marketers to source their products from the facility could hinder competition.

On his part, the head of Public Relations for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria,Ukadike Chinedu,has voiced his disapproval of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, as well as the international oil companies present in Nigeria, and the NMDPRA, for allegedly causing difficulties for local refiners.

“We cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation, because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop the importation of all petroleum products, especially AGO, and direct all marketers to the refinery.

We all know that these indigenous refiners are truly going through a lot, particularly with respect to accessing crude oil needed to produce refined products..

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