By Ayomide Otitoju
Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has dismissed reports alleging that it imports finished petroleum products, describing the claims as inaccurate and based on a misunderstanding of standard global refining practices.
At a media briefing held at the refinery, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, David Bird, explained that DPRP, as a large-scale merchant refinery, refines crude oil and processes intermediate feedstocks into premium petroleum products and petrochemicals that meet international quality and environmental standards.
Bird clarified that the processing of intermediate or semi-processed materials is a common practice across the global refining industry and does not amount to the importation of finished products. He noted that the Dangote Refinery operates on European and Asian merchant refinery models, integrating advanced refining, blending, and trading systems.
He said the refinery produces high-quality fuels that comply with international environmental and health specifications, including lead-free and MMT-free gasoline with 50 parts per million sulphur content, and ultra-low sulphur diesel designed to reduce emissions, protect vehicle engines, and safeguard public health.
Bird stressed that only fully refined, market-ready products are supplied to the Nigerian market, adding that semi-finished fuels are unsuitable for vehicle use and are therefore not released for domestic consumption. Journalists at the briefing were shown samples of both intermediate feedstocks and finished products.
According to him, the refinery was established to end Nigeria’s long-standing exposure to substandard fuels and has since begun exporting its products to international markets, reflecting their quality and competitiveness.
He explained that intermediate materials such as naphtha, straight-run gas oil, vacuum gas oil (VGO), reformate, alkylate, and isomerate serve as feedstocks for further refining into finished fuels and petrochemicals.
Reaffirming DPRP’s commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, Bird urged the media to help educate the public on the distinction between intermediate feedstocks and finished petroleum products.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals are deliberately spreading misleading narratives about a facility that has transformed Nigeria and the West African region from a dumping ground for substandard fuels into a hub for high-quality products,” he said.
Bird added that the refinery’s flexible design enables it to process a wide range of crude oils and intermediate feedstocks, assuring Nigerians of sustained product availability. He noted that DPRP has contributed to easing fuel scarcity, stabilising the naira, and reducing pressure on foreign exchange.
Also speaking, the Group Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, urged journalists to exercise precision in their reporting, warning that inaccurate terminology could mislead the public and trigger unnecessary concern.
