- By Halimah Olamide
The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday denied having any blending plant in Malta.
His statement, which was shared on his verified X handle was sequel to an allegation by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, that some key personalities of the NNPC operate a blending plant in Malta.
Dangote had linked the existence of the said blending plant to the alleged moves by some individuals and agencies of the federal government to frustrate the operations of Dangote Refinery.
Kyari said he has been inundated by enquiries from family members, friends and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group.
“To clarify the allegations regarding blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini Agric venture.
“Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC, that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world. “A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.
“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security.”
NPO Reports that there have been controversies over the operations of the new refinery.
Disagreement came after the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), alleged that Dangote Refinery’s products are of low quality.
The comment by the boss of NMDPRA Farouk Ahmed had sparked outrage forcing Dangote to test its product before a House of Representatives Committee on Oils and Gas.
Dangote himself has said that most of the fuel imported into Nigeria damage vehicles.