By Abiola Olawale
The current face-off between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Dangote Refinery owned by Africa’s richest man and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has continued to escalate as allegations and counter-allegations have been flying around.
This is as Dangote rejected claims that petroleum products from his refinery are substandard.
The business mogul stated this while reacting to the comments made by the Chief executive of the NMDPRA, Mr Farouk Ahmed.
Ahmed had said that Nigeria cannot depend on products from the Dangote refinery, revealing that products from the 650,000 barrels refinery are inferior and substandard in quality.
However, speaking with a delegation of House of Reps members led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Dangote said the comments of the NMDPRA boss are targeted at soiling the reputation of his refinery.
During the visit, Dangote ordered his team to test diesel produced from his refinery and diesel bought from other stations at the laboratories.
The tested diesel from other stations was bought in the presence of the lawmakers, while that from the Dangote Refinery was taken from production also in the presence of the lawmakers.
Two tests were conducted; a test of the sulphur level and a flash test. While all crude-based products contain some level of sulphur, high sulphur levels cause damage to engines and vehicle components.
The flash point refers to the lowest temperature at which the application of the ignition source causes the vapours above the liquid to ignite with the minimum expected flash point at 66.
According to the statement by Dangote team, the results showed that the sulphur content in the diesel from other stations was above 2,631 and 1,829; much higher than the recommended level while the tests for the flash point showed results of 26 and 63 respectively for the diesel from other stations. Both results fell short of the recommended minimum of 66.
However, Dangote claimed that the results for the diesel from Dangote turned out to be 87.6 ppm for sulphur and 96 flashpoints.
Reacting to the result, Dangote explained that the result does not only show the reality of products from his refinery, but it also shows that substandard petroleum products are being imported into the country and sold to unsuspecting Nigerians.
He explained: “The most important thing, your excellency, is to note that the imported one they are encouraging, is the spec in test, but in certain cases when you check (independently), different results will show.”
This, he said, is “because those people who have the lab have been told what to write.”
He said the best way to determine the quality of products being imported and sold to Nigerians is by going to the filling stations, buying and testing them.
Meanwhile, Speaker Abbas assured Dangote that he would intervene in the ongoing face-off and investigate the matter to ascertain the truth.
He said: “I don’t know how we have this contradiction of two players representing the public and private sector.
“I think it is something we need to investigate further to find out if there are ulterior motives.”
