In just five months, petroleum product marketers have removed 518,500 metric tonnes of diesel and aviation fuel (Jet A1) from the Dangote Refinery, accounting for 60% of all truck outs nationwide. Related article: Dangote and FG agree on fuel supply; lifting will start tomorrow The products were lifted between April and September, according to documents received from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
These were independent local marketers. Among them are numerous companies such as Asharami, MRS Oil and Gas, AA Rano, Rainoil, Prudent, NIPCO, Aym Shafa, and Danmarna. Upon closer examination of the transactions, it was discovered that marketers had removed 29,000 metric tonnes of aviation fuel and 489,500 metric tonnes of diesel for distribution across several ports in Nigeria.
Olufemi Adewole, Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, had stated: “The sector needs to operate transparently in a manner that allows all stakeholders to thrive and contribute significantly to the quest of ensuring availability, reliability, and accessibility of petroleum products nationwide.”
“We didn’t boycott Dangote petrol,” Adewole said, adding that the alleged boycott of Dangote Refinery’s petrol was untrue because petroleum marketers were still awaiting government clearance on the procedures pertaining to the refinery’s petrol offtake.
He declared: “DAPPMAN is firmly committed to meeting Nigeria’s energy needs, as evidenced by the patronage of various products from the Dangote Refinery by its members. We also remain aligned with calls for the nation to avoid becoming a monopoly, which would only jeopardise our economic growth and development.”
Adewole observed that DAPPMAN and other marketers had repeatedly said that price and quality are the two most important factors in the global trading of petroleum products.
He said, “Offtake will gravitate towards sources where products can be bought at a lower price, better quality, and seamless accessibility, in keeping with the laws of demand and supply.” He gave Nigerians confidence that DAPPMAN would keep working to ensure the sector’s viability while providing the country with excellent fuel options.
