Amanze Chinonye
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has refuted reports alleging that it imported high-sulphur petrol into Nigeria, insisting that the cargo in question was an intermediate feedstock meant for refining, not finished fuel.
The company’s management, in a statement dated October 10, 2025, described the reports as “false, malicious, and misleading.” It clarified that the shipment imported from the United Kingdom was part of a routine global industry practice involving the processing of crude oil and intermediate feedstocks to optimize output and maintain fuel quality standards.
“The cargo in question is an intermediate feedstock, not finished petrol, and will be fully refined in our units to meet Nigerian and international quality standards,” the statement read.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe clarification follows an investigative report by Sahara Reporters, which cited documents from Phillips 66 Limited, operators of the Humber Refinery in Immingham, UK.
The documents reportedly showed that a vessel, MT Clearocean Marigold, loaded a consignment of “High-Sulphur Catalytic Gasoline (FCC Gasoline)” on September 21, 2025, bound for Nigeria. The product’s sulphur content was listed at 690 parts per million (ppm) significantly above the 50ppm limit set for petrol in Nigeria.
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Dangote Petroleum Refinery, however, maintained that importing intermediate products for blending and refining is standard practice in complex refineries worldwide.
“As a world-scale complex refinery, Dangote processes a range of crude oils and intermediate feedstocks a standard global practice aimed at optimising production and quality,” it said.
The company further noted that it operates within a Free Trade Zone, exporting petroleum products to the United States and Europe, markets with some of the world’s most stringent fuel quality regulations.
“Our exports of petroleum products to these regions underscore our adherence to global benchmarks,” Dangote stated, adding that all imports are accompanied by quality certificates and shared with regulators.
The refinery also expressed readiness to make documentation of its imports public, “in the interest of full transparency and accountability.”
The controversy comes at a time when the refinery Africa’s largest is under close scrutiny from regulators and the public as it ramps up domestic fuel production. Industry analysts say the misunderstanding reflects the technical complexity of refining operations, where feedstocks such as catalytic gasoline are commonly used to produce compliant final products.
Energy policy experts note that while environmental standards must be upheld, the use of feedstock imports does not necessarily breach regulations if properly refined before sale.
Dangote Refinery reiterated its commitment to “advancing Nigeria’s energy independence, upholding the highest standards of quality and transparency, and delivering cleaner fuels for Nigeria and beyond.”
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