Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals (DPRP), Africa’s largest refinery complex, has rejected recent reports claiming that it imports finished petroleum products such as petrol and diesel, describing those assertions as false, misleading and stemming from a misunderstanding of global refinery practices. The company emphasised that it does not bring finished fuel into Nigeria, clarifying its operations in a detailed media briefing held at its Lekki facility.
At the briefing, David Bird, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DPRP, explained that the refinery’s operations revolve around the processing of crude oil and intermediate feedstocks into premium petroleum products and petrochemicals that comply with international quality and environmental standards. He pointed out that the facility operates as a large‑scale merchant refinery following European and Asian refinery models, which routinely import semi‑processed materials and refine them further into finished products. This practice is common in the global refining industry and does not equate to importing final fuels, Bird stressed.
Bird explained that the intermediate materials occasionally imported — including substances like naphtha, straight‑run gas oil, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, alkylate and isomerate — are feedstocks used in subsequent refining and blending processes. These intermediate inputs are not vehicle‑ready fuels; they require extensive conversion within the refinery’s advanced units to meet market‑ready specifications for petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and other products. The refinery management emphasised that finished fuels sold in Nigeria and exported abroad are produced locally on site at DPRP.
According to Bird, DPRP’s products meet stringent Euro‑standard fuel specifications, with petrol that is lead‑free and MMT‑free with low sulphur content, and diesel that meets ultra‑low sulphur requirements. These standards, he explained, are designed to reduce emissions, protect vehicle engines and safeguard public health — key objectives of the refinery’s operational mandate. The CEO also highlighted that DPRP’s output has significantly contributed to easing fuel scarcity within Nigeria, stabilising supply and reducing reliance on historical patterns of importing substandard fuels that previously circulated in the domestic market.
DPRP’s clarification responded directly to persistent narrative threads in both media and social commentary that suggested the refinery was undermining local refining goals by importing “finished” products. The company described such narratives as fundamentally misinformed and emphasised the importance of accurate technical understanding when discussing refinery operations. Bird urged journalists and industry commentators to differentiate between intermediate feedstocks, which are routinely traded internationally, and finished, market‑ready fuels produced at the refinery.
Representatives of Dangote Industries Limited, including Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Brand and Communications Officer, echoed the call for precise terminology and clearer public discourse. They cautioned that inaccurate reporting can mislead the public and create unnecessary concern about national fuel security and energy independence goals. DPRP also underscored its commitment to transparency and regulatory engagement, noting that its products are certified to meet both domestic and global specifications.
In reinforcing its stance, the refinery highlighted that it has successfully exported refined products to international markets, demonstrating the competitiveness of its output beyond Nigerian borders. Bird described this as proof that DPRP’s products meet or exceed the quality requirements of some of the world’s most regulated markets, underscoring the facility’s technical capabilities and operational maturity.
Critics of the misleading reports have noted that discussions about fuel imports and local refining capacity can become conflated in public discourse, especially when complex technical and logistical aspects of modern refinery operations are not fully understood. DPRP’s clarification sought to address these misunderstandings by outlining the normalcy of importing intermediate feedstocks — a common practice among global refining hubs that allows refineries to optimise production and adapt to varying crude and feedstock supplies.
The company’s denial comes amid broader national discussions about Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, refining capacity and the long‑standing goal of achieving full fuel self‑sufficiency. With DPRP’s capacity to refine up to hundreds of thousands of barrels per day, stakeholders in the oil and gas sector have generally signalled optimism about the potential to reduce dependence on foreign fuel imports — in line with government and industry objectives to strengthen domestic production and reduce foreign exchange pressures associated with fuel importation.
In summary, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has made it clear that it does not import finished petroleum products. Any imported feedstocks are utilised as part of global refining practices to support the conversion of crude oil into high‑quality, market‑ready fuels that meet international standards and address Nigeria’s fuel needs. The refinery’s management reiterated its commitment to transparency, consistent compliance with regulatory frameworks and the delivery of clean, competitive petroleum products to the Nigerian market and beyond.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments