The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical complex is set to commence fuel exports to South Africa, Angola, and Namibia.
According to a credible source, who shared details exclusively with one of our correspondents on Friday, the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery is in advanced negotiations with these countries to start fuel deliveries soon.
Petroleumprice.ng also gathered that Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, and the Niger Republic have begun discussions with the refinery.
Findings indicate that more countries are expected to express interest in fuel imports from the refinery in the coming months.
Recently, Ghana was reported to have shown interest in procuring petrol from the $20 billion Lekki-based refinery. The Chairman of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, commented on the arrangement with Dangote refinery, stating, “The arrangement would end our country’s monthly $400 million fuel imports from Europe.”
The source confirmed, “I can confirm to you that talks are actually at an advanced stage with Ghana, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, while initial discussions are ongoing with the Niger Republic, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.”
When asked about the reluctance of local marketers to purchase from Dangote despite the refinery’s capacity, the source responded that certain dealers had ulterior motives. “However, between now and January 2025, their plan would be exposed. Dangote refinery remains the hope of this country for a sustainable supply of petrol, and the refinery has the capacity to serve the entire country,” the source added.
Meanwhile, local marketers have opted to import fuel from outside Nigeria. Last week, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) emphasized the need for fuel importation, citing the high prices Dangote refinery charges Nigerians.
These marketers are awaiting the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to import cheaper petrol. They argued that importing more affordable fuel would provide relief for consumers still adapting to price increases following the removal of the fuel subsidy. To proceed, the marketers requested foreign exchange access from the CBN and regulatory permits from NMDPRA to ensure fuel quality and compliance standards.
However, the NMDPRA dismissed claims that IPMAN and PETROAN could obtain petrol import licenses as associations. An NMDPRA official, speaking anonymously, clarified that the agency would only issue licenses to individual marketers, as mandated by law. “They can’t apply for a petrol import license as a body or association. Individual marketers have to apply by themselves before they can be granted that license,” the source stated. “If individual marketers don’t apply for it, we can’t approve it.”
In response, PETROAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, noted that the association had applied for an import license about a month ago through its newly incorporated trading wing. Describing Dangote as an “aggressive competitor,” Obele remarked, “Dangote is just out to close all the doors and windows so that no person enters the market. He is determined to ensure that nobody enters the market as a competitor. We assure Nigerians that as soon as the regulatory agency approves our authority to import, this price of PMS that is causing pain to Nigerians right now will crash to the barest minimum.”
Obele also emphasised the quality of the product PETROAN intends to import: “The product we are planning to import is one of the best products so far, far better than his (Dangote’s) own, but he is just telling Nigerians that any product that is coming into the country is not better than his own.”