According to Saturday PUNCH, the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical is scheduled to start exporting fuel to Namibia, Angola, and South Africa.The management of the refinery with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day was in advanced stages of negotiations with the countries to begin lifting fuel, according to a very reliable source who exclusively confirmed this to one of our correspondents on Friday.
Seven Nations Wait To Lift Fuel From Dangote Refinery With South Africa Among .
Four other African nations—the Niger Republic, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Central Africa Republic—had also begun negotiating with the refinery, according to information our correspondents obtained.According to reliable information provided to Saturday PUNCH, additional nations are anticipated to express interest in removing fuel from the refinery in the upcoming months.
According to recent reports, Ghana has shown interest in purchasing petrol from the $20 billion refinery located in Lekki.Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the chairman of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, stated that the agreement with the Dangote refinery would stop the $400 million in fuel imports from Europe that his nation currently imports each month.The source stated, “I can confirm to you that initial discussions are coming up with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, while talk is actually at an advanced stage with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.”
The source claimed that the dealers had a covert agenda when asked why marketers are refusing to purchase from Dangote in spite of the refinery’s capacity.However, their plan would be revealed between now and January 2025. According to the source, the Dangote refinery is still the nation’s best chance for a steady supply of petrol and can supply the whole nation.Local marketers have decided to import fuel from abroad in the interim.
According to recent reports, Ghana has shown interest in purchasing petrol from the $20 billion refinery located in Lekki.Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the chairman of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, stated that the agreement with the Dangote refinery would stop the $400 million in fuel imports from Europe that his nation currently imports each month.The source stated, “I can confirm to you that initial discussions are coming up with Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, while talk is actually at an advanced stage with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa.”When questioned about why marketers are refusing to purchase from Dangote in spite of the refinery’s capacity, the source claimed that the dealers had a secret agenda.
“However, between now and January 2025, their plan would be exposed. According to the source, the Dangote refinery is still the nation’s best chance for a steady supply of petrol and can supply the whole nation.Local marketers have decided to import fuel from abroad in the interim.Last week, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria demanded that fuel be imported after accusing the Dangote refinery of charging excessive prices for fuel sold to Nigerians.The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Central Bank of Nigeria have not yet given their approval for the marketers to import less expensive petrol.
The marketers argued that importing more affordable petrol would offer relief for consumers still adjusting to the price surges following the removal of fuel subsidy.However, to proceed, the marketers requested access to foreign exchange from the CBN, and permits from NMDPRA to ensure compliance with fuel quality and regulatory standards.
However, the NMDPRA has denied allegations that IPMAN and PETROAN were granted permission to import petrol as associations.Due to the delicate nature of the matter, an NMDPRA official who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity stated that the organisation could not authorise oil marketers’ requests to obtain import licenses as an association; instead, it would have to consider each request separately.
According to the source, individual applications were required by law and could not be put on hold.In actuality, they are unable to apply for a petrol import licence as a group or association. Before being given that licence, individual marketers must submit an application. They must submit an application on their own. It is not possible for them to apply as an association because we will not grant the permit jointly.
“Therefore, we are unable to approve it if individual marketers do not apply.”In response, Dr. Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, stated that the association applied for the import licence through its recently established trading wing approximately a month ago.According to him, Dangote is a “aggressive competitor” who will stop at nothing to control the market.
“You should know that Dangote is just out to close all the doors and windows so that no person enters the market. He is determined to ensure that nobody enters the market as a competitor. We assure Nigerians that as soon as the regulatory agency approves our authority to import, this price of PMS that is causing pain to Nigerians right now will crash to the barest minimum.
“The product we are planning to import is one of the best products so far, far better than his (Dangote) own, but he is just telling Nigerians that any product that is coming into the country is not better than his own.“We call on Nigerians to support the call for dismantling monopolies so that we can liberate the market; otherwise, we will remain in the trap we are. We are trapped at the moment; we are trapped with exploitation and the only way out of the trap is to dismantle every dimension of monopoly and we are calling on Nigerians to support us,” Obele said.
