According to Punch newspaper, citing an anonymous source, the Dangote refinery is nearing the start of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sales. The source disclosed that the Dangote Group is finalizing arrangements for product distribution.
The Punch report also indicates that the Federal Government is overseeing the sale and distribution of Dangote fuel, with only the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) authorized to handle the distribution.
After several missed deadlines, Dangote Group has once again announced that petrol sales will commence by September. This marks the fifth postponement of the rollout, which was initially promised for May. Subsequent delays pushed the date to June, July, and August, all of which were missed due to disruptions in crude oil supplies.
The delays have been attributed to ongoing disputes between the Dangote Group and various stakeholders, including the Nigerian government. Notably, there was a conflict regarding the sale of crude oil, which led to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approving the NNPC Ltd’s proposal to sell crude in Nigeria’s local currency to the Dangote refinery and other refineries.
Accusations that oil majors were obstructing Dangote’s access to locally produced petroleum, either by pricing it above market value or claiming unavailability, forced the refinery to source oil from the international market, including Brazil and the US. Additionally, allegations surfaced that certain Nigerian NNPC employees and oil dealers were involved in activities in Malta that disrupted the refinery’s operations.
