The long-awaited development of Dangote Refinery commencing diesel sales to oil marketers across the nation has been confirmed by both dealers and officials of the plant. According to reports gathered, the refinery initiated diesel sales last week and is poised to extend its offerings to include aviation fuel in the near future.
Abubakar Maigandi, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, shared insights into this significant milestone, stating, “They started pumping out diesel to marketers since last week. They also promised to sell aviation fuel soon. Some of my members confirmed this to me after making a purchase.”
The commencement of diesel sales from Dangote Refinery is anticipated to drive down the price of diesel nationwide, which currently stands at ₦1700 per litre. Maigandi affirmed this positive trend, noting, “The price of diesel is going to fall because of the release of products from Dangote Refinery. In fact, it is already coming down in Lagos.”
A senior management official of the refinery also corroborated the sale of diesel to marketers and hinted at the impending release of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) into the market.
Despite facing regulatory hurdles since its official inauguration by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023, Dangote Refinery has remained steadfast in its commitment to delivering refined products to the market. One such challenge has been obtaining regulatory approvals.
On January 12, 2024, Dangote Refinery announced the commencement of production of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and aviation fuel, expressing gratitude to key stakeholders including President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Nigerians for their support and belief in the project.
Aliko Dangote, in a statement issued by his firm, extended appreciation to President Tinubu for his instrumental role in realizing the project, while expressing confidence in the refinery’s capacity to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s energy landscape.
With Africa’s largest refinery boasting a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, Nigeria is poised for a transformative shift from fuel importation to becoming a net exporter, heralding a new era of power and profit dynamics in the industry.
