Dangote Petroleum Refinery has accused some actors in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector of deliberately working against its planned deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks for fuel distribution.
On September 11, the refinery announced that it would commence free direct supply of petrol nationwide from September 15, but the move was criticized by interests .
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) dismissed the plan as a “Greek gift,” while the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) described the claim of free delivery as misleading, arguing that “marketers are required to lift at least 25 percent of their allocations directly from the refinery gantry.”
Responding to the criticism in a worded BusinessDay advertorial response to the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the refinery said the pushback was part of a broader attempt to frustrate its operations.
“Rather, they constitute a calculated campaign of economic sabotage, orchestrated by vested interests who perceived progress as a threat to their entrenched positions.
“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 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered trucks for the distribution of fuel. This innovation has been widely recognised as a transformative step towards Nigeria’s long-sought goal of energy self-sufficiency, ” Dangote Refinery said.
The refinery described DAPPMAN’s position as a “face-saving attempt to divert attention from the real issues” and rejected its claims on product quality.
Citing past controversies, Dangote refinery recalled that in January 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) reported that one of DAPPMAN’s members supplied petrol with over 15 percent methanol, far above acceptable limits.
“The result was widespread engine damage for thousands of end users. Yet, no transparent government inquiry or independent investigation was ever conducted to determine the source, intent, or full impact of the adulterated fuel,” it said.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama