Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man, has forcefully refuted allegations that petroleum products from his refinery are substandard, which has stirred controversy for the past few days.
The accusations were addressed on Saturday during a visit by members of the House of Representatives to the Dangote Refinery in Lagos. The delegation, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, was provided with comprehensive insights into the refinery’s processes and the quality of its products.
Background of the Allegations
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The controversy erupted on July 18 when Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), asserted that local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, were producing inferior products compared to imports. Ahmed also claimed that the Dangote Refinery was only 45% complete and had not yet received the necessary licensing to operate.
These assertions have ignited substantial public backlash, with many Nigerians accusing the federal government of deliberately undermining Dangote’s refinery efforts, which are seen as crucial for the country’s energy independence.
In response to the allegations, Dangote presented evidence of rigorous testing conducted at his refinery. He explained that diesel samples from two filling stations and from his refinery were analyzed using an Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) Spectro Photometer, employing the ASTM D4294 method. This method provides rapid and precise measurement of total sulfur in petroleum products, requiring minimal sample preparation with analysis times ranging from one to five minutes per sample.
“Our quality is about 600 to 650 ppm and is one of the best in terms of quality at that time when we started. But as at today, we’re at 87 ppm,” Dangote stated.
He further assured that the sulfur concentration would drop below 10 ppm shortly. To demonstrate transparency, Dangote invited the regulator to take samples at any time to verify these claims.
During the visit, Dangote shared the test results with the lawmakers, comparing the sulfur content in diesel from TotalEnergies and Matrix Retail with that of his refinery.
The results showed:
- TotalEnergies diesel had a sulfur concentration of 1,829 ppm.
- Matrix Retail diesel had a sulfur concentration of 2,653 ppm.
- Diesel from the Dangote Refinery had significantly lower sulfur levels.
“Our flash point showed 96. If you want to do the rest, we can run it at any given time,” Dangote emphasized, highlighting the superior quality of his refinery’s products. The flash point of any liquid is the lowest temperature at which it will produce sufficient vapor to create a flammable mixture in the air, making it a critical measure of safety and quality.
Call for Further Investigation
Dangote noted that it is important that the quality of imported petroleum products sold in Nigeria be independently verified. He suggested purchasing samples from various filling stations for testing to ensure compliance with established standards.
“The most important thing, your excellency, is to note that the imported one they are encouraging is the spec in the test, but in certain cases when you check (independently), different results will show,” Dangote stated. This remark underscores his concern that imported products might not consistently meet the purported quality standards.
Speaker Abbas recognized the need for a thorough investigation, given the contradictory claims from the public and private sectors.
“I don’t know how we have this contradiction of two players representing the public and private sector. I think it is something we need to investigate further to find out if there are ulterior motives,” Abbas remarked, indicating that a deeper probe is necessary to resolve the discrepancies and to understand any underlying intentions behind the conflicting statements.
The Dangote Refinery, which intends to commence the supply of petrol in August, remains a crucial project for Nigeria’s energy sector. As such, many believe ensuring the quality of its products and addressing any regulatory concerns are vital.
However, the allegations from the government are believed to be in bad faith, and capable of undermining the refinery project, which, at 650,000 bpd capacity, is one of the largest in the world.