LIVE UPDATES
The controversy surrounding the sulphur content in the Automotive Gas Oil, commonly known as diesel, produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, continues to persist.
Over the weekend, there were online reports alleging that the diesel recently supplied by the $20bn refinery contained high sulphur.
However, oil marketers stated that despite the allegations, no motorist or industrial consumer had registered any complaint against the product.
A top official of the Dangote Group dismissed the recent report on high sulphur content in Dangote diesel as fake, claiming it was an attempt to destroy the refinery.
The Dangote Group has accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority of importing dirty fuel into Nigeria and granting licences indiscriminately to marketers to import dirty refined products.
The Dangote refinery has exported more than 90% of its production, and the company is calling for government support to create jobs and prosperity for the nation.
The Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, had accused the international oil companies of plans to frustrate the refinery.
He had also accused the NMDPRA of granting licences indiscriminately to marketers to import dirty refined products into the country.
According to Edwin, the Federal Government issued 25 licences for the construction of refineries in Nigeria, but only the Dangote Group delivered on its promise.
He said: "Dangote has exported more than 90% of its production, and is calling on the government to support it in creating jobs and prosperity for the nation.
"However, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has been granting licences indiscriminately for the importation of dirty diesel and aviation fuel, which has forced the Dangote refinery to expand into foreign markets."
Edwin argued that the refinery meets international standards and regulations, and that Nigeria can produce nearly double the amount of products needed domestically and export the surplus, but import licences are still being granted.
The regulator has yet to release the report from its investigation conducted two weeks ago, especially as the comments from the NMDPRA boss were met with backlash.
However, various laboratory results surfaced online during the weekend, alleging that diesel supplied to retailers between April and July had a sulphur content in Dangote diesel as high as 1200 ppm.
The online reports stated that the fuel, delivered in 32 batches, was supplied to different depots of various retail companies.
It was also alleged that two days after the lawmakers' visit, the Dangote refinery delivered a shipment of diesel containing 950 ppm of sulphur to AA Rano's depot in Ijegun, Lagos, with the certificate of quality dated July 21 and authorised by an independent laboratory named Intertek.
While reacting to this, an official of the Dangote Group, who spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to speak with the press, described the report as false.
