Says Distillation Unit Working Optimally
The Dangote Refinery on Saturday said it is false for anyone to claim that the company is reselling crude oil and that its crude distillation unit (CDU) is not working.
Anthony Chiejina, spokesman of the Dangote Group, said in a statement that Nigerians should ignore the report.
“We categorically deny these claims. The Dangote Refinery is not authorised to sell crude oil purchased from Nigeria and our CDU is fully operational and functioning optimally,” Chiejina said in the statement.
He also said that such narratives being spread is part of the agenda of those forces that are against local refining of petroleum product in Nigeria.
The Dangote Group has come under pressure in the last few weeks since the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency said the company was not lisensed yet to refine petrol adding that the product being churned by the company are substandard.
The statement by NMDPRA boss, Farouk Ahmed had caused ripples with many suggesting that the authorities are not interested in the success of a local refinery.
Dangote himself had earlier before NMDPRA’s declaration alleged that some forces were sabotaging the new company.
Just few days ago, Dangote also alleged that officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company own blending plants in Malta.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, had said that he does not own any interest in blending outside Nigeria.