- Safiu Kehinde
The Dangote Group on Friday denied accusing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of not supplying crude oil to its refinery.
The group said its attention was drawn to media reports alleging that the Dangote Refinery has backtracked by acknowledging that NNPC supplied about 60% of the 50 million barrels we lifted.
In a statement released and signed by the Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer Anthony Chiejina, he went further to state the need to clarify the refinery at np time accused the NNPC of not supplying it with crude.
“Our concern has always been NUPRC’s reluctance to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation, and ensuring that we receive our full crude requirement from NNPC and the IOCs,” Chiejina explained.
Chiejina disclosed that NUPRC is yet to secure the remaining cargoes of crude oil the group purchased from NNPC in September.
“For September, our requirement is 15 cargoes, of which NNPC allocated six. Despite appealing to NUPRC and their intervention, we’ve been unable to secure the remaining cargoes. When we approached IOCs producing in Nigeria, they redirected us to their international trading arms or responded that their cargoes were committed.
“Consequently, we often purchase the same Nigerian crude from international traders at an additional $3-$4 premium per barrel which translates to $3-$4 million per cargo.
“We, therefore still insist that we are unable to secure our full crude requirement from domestic production and urge NUPRC to fully enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as mandated by the PIA. It is a law and they just need to comply.” He added.