Dangote Refinery Defends Petrol Pricing Amid Import Claims, Sets Price at N990 Per Litre
By Matthew Eloyi
In response to claims by petroleum marketers that imported petrol is available at cheaper rates than its own, Dangote Refinery has disclosed its current pricing structure, stating that it sells petrol at N990 per litre for trucks and at a lower rate of N960 per litre for ship deliveries.
This announcement follows assertions by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) that they can secure cheaper fuel imports.
In a Sunday night statement signed by Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer Anthony Chiejina, Dangote Refinery clarified that its pricing aligns with the benchmark set by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which initially priced domestic PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) at N971 per litre for ship sales and N990 for trucks.
Dangote Refinery reportedly adjusted its ship sales price below the benchmark to N960 per litre, maintaining N990 per litre for trucks.
The refinery stressed that any claims of cheaper imports are linked to substandard products, emphasising that it strictly adheres to quality benchmarks.
“If anyone claims they can land PMS at a price cheaper than what we are selling, then they are importing substandard products and conniving with international traders to dump low-quality products into the country, without concern for the health of Nigerians or the longevity of their vehicles,” the statement read.
Dangote Refinery further raised concerns over an international company setting up a facility near its complex to blend substandard products aimed at competing with locally refined fuel.
This, the refinery argues, undermines Nigeria’s domestic refining industry and poses a risk to the country’s economy and job market.
Drawing parallels to the protective measures adopted by the US and Europe for their industries, the refinery highlighted the importance of safeguarding local production.
The company called on the public to disregard what it described as “deliberate disinformation” from interests that favor importing fuel over bolstering local production.
“In good faith, and in the interest of the country, we commenced sales at these prices without clarity on the exchange rate that we will use to pay for the crude purchased,” the refinery added, underscoring its commitment to providing quality, affordable, and locally refined products to Nigerians.