“Our Parameters Today Are Extremely Good” – Dangote Refutes NMDPRA Allegations on Refinery’s Product Quality

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, has firmly dismissed accusations that his refinery’s petroleum products fail to meet quality standards.

During a visit by members of the House of Representatives to the Lagos-based refinery on Saturday, Dangote rejected claims made by Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Ahmed had stated on July 18 that local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, were producing subpar products compared to imports.

The delegation, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, witnessed Dangote’s defense firsthand. Dangote explained that diesel samples from two filling stations and his refinery were tested using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) Spectro Photometer following the ASTM D4294 method. This method ensures rapid and precise sulfur measurement in petroleum products with minimal sample preparation.

Dangote emphasized that the samples purchased in the presence of lawmakers showed superior quality. “Our diesel quality ranges from 600 to 650 ppm sulfur content, and currently, it’s at 87 ppm. I invite the regulator to test our products at any time, and I guarantee even lower levels soon,” he stated.

The test results revealed that diesel from TotalEnergies had a sulfur concentration of 1,829 ppm, and Matrix Retail showed 2,653 ppm, while Dangote’s samples had a significantly lower sulfur content and a higher flash point. “Our current parameters are excellent, and by August, our sulfur content will be reduced to 10 ppm,” Dangote announced.

He further called for regular testing of imported products sold in Nigeria, suggesting discrepancies in quality. “The best way to verify product quality is by independently testing samples from filling stations,” Dangote advised.

Speaker Abbas, noting the conflicting claims, called for an investigation to resolve the discrepancies. “We need to investigate further to determine if there are any underlying motives behind these contradictory claims,” he said.

This development follows a recent dispute where Dangote alleged that international oil companies were hindering crude supply to his refinery, a claim the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission refuted.

The Dangote refinery plans to begin supplying petrol in August.