The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is considering restricting sales of petrol to major marketers importing the product into Nigeria. 

The consideration comes amid concerns over product quality, market transparency and the integrity of products supplied under the Dangote brand.

Sources familiar with the development said the measure could take effect this week, subject to further consultations and any last-minute intervention.

There are growing concerns over the continued importation of petrol into a market where substantial domestic refining capacity abounds.

The refinery’s position says the immediate concern relates to the fact that some marketers are blending substandard imported petrol with products purchased from Dangote Refinery before distributing the blended product to the market.

The refinery is concerned that such practices can make it difficult to distinguish between products supplied directly by the refinery and products subsequently blended or handled by third parties.

The refinery also raises concerns about the lack of a standard laboratory by the regulator and quality control infrastructure for imported petroleum products, particularly the capacity to independently verify and certify the specifications of products entering the Nigerian market.

The concerns come as Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector undergoes a structural transition from longstanding import dependence towards greater domestic refining.

With a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has emerged as a major supplier of refined petroleum products to both the Nigerian and international markets, supplying products that meet internationally recognized quality specifications. 

The United States Energy Information Administration recently identifies the Dangote refinery as a major factor behind the sharp increase in Nigeria’s seaborne petroleum product exports.

Edited by: Ifeoluwa Mabinuori