The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has forcefully dismissed widespread media reports claiming it is shutting down for maintenance, labeling the allegations as “false and misleading.
“In an official statement released on Monday, Africa’s largest refinery categorically affirmed that production remains ongoing, stable, and uninterrupted, with a firm guarantee of sustained fuel supply to the Nigerian market.The refinery disclosed impressive operational figures to counter the rumours.
It retains the capacity to supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily throughout January and February, based solely on market demand.
Providing concrete data, the management stated that on January 4, the facility produced 50 million litres of PMS and evacuated 48 million litres via its gantry. Current stock levels are sufficient to cover over 20 days of national consumption, effectively dispelling any concerns about imminent supply shortages.
Addressing claims linking routine upkeep to a full-scale shutdown, the refinery clarified that its integrated and sophisticated design allows maintenance on specific units without halting overall production.While work may proceed on units like the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), other critical processing units including the Naphtha Hydrotreater, Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR) Reformer, and Hydrocracker remain fully operational, continuously producing PMS, Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel), and Jet A-1 fuel.
The refinery accused certain fuel importers of sponsoring false reports to justify recent increases in petrol pump prices, describing such tactics as “inconsistent with national interest” and imposing undue hardship on Nigerians.
In contrast, Dangote reaffirmed its commitment to market stability, continuing to sell PMS at a fixed ex-gantry price of N699 per litre to all marketers. It warned that without domestic refining, petrol prices could surge to as high as N1,400 per litre in the current post-subsidy environment.The company urged filling stations and bulk consumers to patronise locally refined products, which it described as more reliable and affordable than often costly, uncertain-quality imports.
Reiterating its role in Nigeria’s energy security, the Dangote Refinery stated it would continue to supply high-quality petroleum products and support the nation’s economic growth. It advised the public to disregard unverified reports and rely only on credible sources for market information.”
Dangote Petroleum Refinery will continue to act in the national interest by supplying high-quality, locally refined petroleum products while supporting Nigeria’s economic stability, energy independence, and industrial growth,” the statement concluded.
