Again, Dangote Refinery Delays Petrol Supply by a Month

The Dangote Refinery has announced that its planned release of premium motor spirit (PMS) into the market, initially set for this month, will now be delayed until July. This development has elicited a variety of reactions from Nigerians.

During a recent facility tour with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, confirmed the postponement, citing minor challenges. “We had a bit of delay, but PMS will start coming out by 10 to 15 of July. We want to keep it in the tank to make sure that it settles. So by the third week of July, we’ll be able to come out to take it into the market,” Dangote explained.

The news has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians. Some view the delay as a typical hurdle in such large-scale projects. Facebook user Anthony Ihenyen remarked, “You are trying, sir, and it will fly. We need more people like you to do more here in Nigeria, not abroad.”

Others expressed frustration. Emmanuel Ose commented, “Anything that will make an average Nigerian happy is always a problem to get in Nigeria,” while Adeola Orukotan questioned the premature declaration of the refinery’s readiness, stating, “When you know your refinery isn’t ready, why rush to declare it open? Now it’s over one year with story upon story.”

On X (formerly Twitter), user @ajagunsegun criticized the continuous delays, noting, “Nigerians were told that the Dangote refinery was due for operation when it was commissioned by Buhari in May 2023, but up until now, we’re still waiting. Dangote has the right to run his private business however he wishes. But what about the four Nigerian refineries?”

Michael Chibuzo offered a more understanding perspective, emphasizing the complexity of refinery operations. “It is complex. You have to pass a lot of tests and carry out many test runs. Commercial production is always the last stage of the entire process. Let’s be patient,” Chibuzo advised.

@Selomsarl expressed gratitude for the update while raising pertinent questions about fuel distribution and pricing. “Thank you for the update, Mr. Dangote. How will the new refinery’s production affect the current fuel scarcity in the country? Will the petrol produced by the refinery be subsidized, or will it be sold at the current market price? How will the distribution of the petrol be handled to ensure it reaches all states and regions equally?”

Stanley Omoyemi summed up the general sentiment by stating, “We are waiting patiently.”

Last month, Dangote had announced that the refinery would commence PMS sales in June, aiming to end Nigeria’s petrol importation. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, he expressed confidence in the refinery’s potential to transform Africa’s energy landscape. “We have enough gasoline to give to at least the entire West Africa, diesel to give to West Africa and Central Africa. We have enough aviation fuel to give to the entire continent and also export some to Brazil and Mexico,” Dangote stated.

These promises have given hope to marketers and Nigerians anticipating a reduction in petrol prices from around N700 to N500 or below once the refinery becomes fully operational.