Dangote Refinery Dismisses Claims Linking Petrol Imports to Supply Breakdown

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has refuted media reports suggesting that the surge in petrol imports recorded in November 2025 was caused by a breakdown in supply arrangements between the refinery and petroleum marketers.

In a statement signed by the Chief Branding and Communications Officer of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, the refinery described the reports as “inaccurate and misleading.”

The statement quoted the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Shettima, as affirming the association’s full support for Dangote Refinery.

“Our members fully support Dangote Refinery. Since supply began, marketers have consistently lifted products without any complaints. We oppose continued importation because Dangote Refinery has the capacity to meet the country’s entire PMS demand,” Shettima was quoted as saying.

According to the refinery, Shettima further stated that IPMAN members are satisfied with the reliability of supply and welcomed the refinery’s plan for direct delivery to filling stations, describing it as a crucial step toward stabilising distribution and benefiting consumers.

He noted that improved access to locally refined petroleum products has eased supply pressures and boosted confidence among independent marketers, while reaffirming IPMAN’s commitment to domestic refining as a sustainable solution for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

The refinery clarified that no supply agreement with marketers had collapsed, stressing that its engagement with the downstream market was deliberately structured to accommodate rising demand while improving access, competition, and efficiency.

Dangote Refinery disclosed that supply under the marketers’ arrangement commenced in October 2025 with an agreed offtake volume of 600 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). This volume was increased to 900 million litres in November and further expanded to 1.5 billion litres in December.

“In line with market growth and absorption capacity, volumes were scaled up accordingly. Subsequently, and in keeping with downstream market liberalisation, we opened PMS supply to all qualified marketers, bulk consumers, and filling station operators,” the statement said.

The refinery added that since December 16, 2025, it has consistently loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, depending on market demand, noting that these figures are verifiable through depot and loading records under routine regulatory oversight.

To further expand participation and enhance distribution efficiency, Dangote Refinery said it introduced several measures, including reducing the minimum purchase volume from two million litres to 250,000 litres and offering a 10-day credit facility backed by bank guarantees.

“These initiatives are aimed at improving liquidity, supporting small and medium-scale operators, and reducing dependence on imported fuel,” the statement noted.

The refinery stated that the expanded access framework has increased the utilisation of locally refined PMS and contributed to more competitive pump prices, with domestic products selling significantly lower than imported alternatives.

It also dismissed claims that marketers withdrew due to pricing concerns, insisting that its ex-gantry prices remain competitive, market-responsive, and aligned with import parity indicators, while fully meeting regulatory and quality standards.

Addressing the spike in petrol imports in November 2025, Dangote Refinery explained that the increase coincided with import licences approved by the former leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which authorised volumes exceeding prevailing domestic demand.

The refinery emphasised that the development had no connection to its operational capacity or supply commitments.

Dangote Refinery reaffirmed its commitment to reliable supply, transparency, and the orderly development of a competitive downstream petroleum market, pledging continued collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders to promote domestic refining, conserve foreign exchange, stabilise prices, and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term energy security.