Dangote refinery yet to receive operating license – NMDPRA
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has explained that the much celebrated Dangote Refinery is yet to have its license to start producing oil in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, was frank this while explaining to journalists at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, July 18.
He said: “There are lots of concerns about the supply of petroleum products nationwide and the claims by some media houses that we were trying to scuttle Dangote refinery, that is not so.
“Dangote Refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet. We have not licensed them yet.
“I think they are at about 45 percent completion. So we cannot rely heavily on one refinery to feed the nation because Dangote is requesting that we should suspend or stop all importation of petroleum products, especially automotive gas oil (AGO) or jet kero and direct all marketers to the refinery. That is not good for the nation in terms of energy security, and that is not good for markets because of monopoly.
“So, in terms of quality, currently, the AGO quality in terms of sulfur is the lowest as far as a West African requirement of 50 ppm.
“Dangote Refinery, as well as some major refineries, like Walter Smith’s refinery, other refineries, they produce 650 to 1,200 ppm. So, in terms of quality, their quality is much, much inferior to the imported commodities.”
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