The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reported significant challenges in the supply of petrol from the Dangote Refinery.
On Wednesday, NNPCL announced that the refinery was unable to meet its expected supply of over 65 million litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).
According to NNPCL, only 10.3 million litres of PMS have been received from the Dangote facility.
This shortfall may force Nigeria to revert to fuel imports, a situation that many hoped to avoid following the commencement of local refining.
Mr. Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson for NNPCL, stated, “As of yesterday, we have received approximately 10.3 million litres. We are facing a shortfall of about 65 million litres. The plan was to receive 25 million litres per day.”
He emphasised the need for energy security, highlighting that it is a legal requirement under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“We must ensure energy security for the country,” Soneye added, reaffirming NNPCL’s commitment to addressing these challenges.
However, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer at Dangote Group, rejected NNPCL’s claims of a supply shortfall.
“This is outright falsehood. We load as the trucks arrive,” Chiejina stated, defending the refinery’s operations.
He acknowledged the difficulty in immediately providing detailed data on supply figures but insisted that the refinery was operating as planned.
Initially, Dangote Refinery was expected to supply NNPCL with 25 million litres per day in September and increase that to 30 million litres in October.
Loading at the facility began on September 15, but the current supply figures have raised concerns among industry stakeholders.
The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed disappointment with the current supply levels.
Abubakar Garima, the National President of IPMAN, remarked, “The supply to my members only improved slightly, and this was not our expectation.”
He indicated that marketers were still purchasing PMS at around N1,000 per litre from various depots, underlining the need for better direct supplies from NNPCL.
The Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) echoed similar sentiments, noting that although fuel queues are gradually clearing, sustained and improved supply is essential.
