By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Dangote Refinery has said it is not directly responsible for recent price hike of ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol,
The company made this clarification on Sunday stressing that some actions are determined by factors beyond its control.
It noted that if not for certain actions taken to absorb approximately 50% of the cost increases in the international oil market the price of petrol would have been extremely high.
The management of the 650,000 bpd refinery said that if it were to pass on the entire increase in the price of crude oil to the market, the retail price of PMS would be approximately N1,150 to N1,200 per litre in some locations,
These were made known in a statement issued on Sunday by Dangote refinery explaining that the petrol price hike is directly related to the significant increase in global crude oil prices.
It stressed that any fluctuation in its international price inevitably impacts the cost of the finished product.
The statement added that the refinery recognises the importance of affordable fuel for Nigerians, expressing commitment to continue offering the best value with guaranteed quality for its customers.
“While we have made a 5% adjustment to our ex-depot price from N899.50 to N950 per litre, it is important to note that this increase is considerably lower than the 15% rise in global crude oil prices, which has seen Brent Crude rise from $70 to $82 in a matter of days, in addition to the premium for Nigerian crude (approximately $3 per barrel) in international markets.
“Furthermore, Dangote Refinery has maintained the Single-Point Mooring (SPM) ex-vessel price at N895 per litre.
“All our partners, including Ardova, Heyden, and MRS Holdings, will offer petrol to Nigerians at a retail price of N970 per litre nationwide.
“We have absorbed the increased logistics costs to guarantee uniform pricing across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Dangote Refinery has absorbed approximately 50% of the cost increases in the international oil market. This is due to our unwavering commitment to quality and affordability, as well as the ownership of the refinery by Nigerians, which remain central to our mission. If Dangote Refinery were to pass on the entire increase in the price of crude oil to the market, the retail price of PMS would be approximately N1,150 to N1,200 per litre in some locations, compared to the current price of N970 per litre.
“We are committed to providing reliable, top-quality petrol to the Nigerian people at competitive prices. In these challenging times, we continue to prioritise the best interests of Nigerians, striving to shield consumers from the full impact of global price volatility while adapting to evolving market conditions.
“We sincerely appreciate the continued trust and support of Nigerians as we strive to deliver the best value for their money and contribute to the development of a self-sufficient economy that is resilient to international price fluctuations,” the statement partly read.
Continuing, the company noted its readiness to commence publishing its ex-depot price, ex-vessel price as well as pump price on a weekly basis so that consumers are not exploited in the interest of transparency and good governance.
“We would like to express our gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the introduction of the visionary Naira for Crude Initiative. This groundbreaking initiative has enabled consistent access to high-quality PMS for all Nigerians, while also insulating the Nigerian consumers from the volatility of the global oil market,” Dangote refinery added.
