• Authority affirms quality specification for AGO supply in Nigeria

The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has debunked the allegations of dirty fuel import into the country.

 
Similarly, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) also refuted claims by Dangote Refinery regarding the issuance of licences for dirty fuel and the importation of substandard petroleum products.
   
Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Devakumar Edwin, recently said NMDPRA was indiscriminately licensing marketers to import dirty petroleum products into the country. Edwin mentioned that NMDPRA’s decision to grant licences for the importation of substandard diesel and aviation fuel prompted Dangote Refinery to expand into foreign markets.  
   
However, in a statement, yesterday, DAPPMAN emphasised that neither its members nor any private fuel depot had imported fuel that did not meet NMDPRA specifications into the country. The association stated that the information from Dangote Refinery was laced with inaccuracies.
   
It, however, revealed that the regulatory authority recently objected to off-takes by their vessels from import vessels via ship-to-ship operations, which was resisted by downstream operators.
   
Executive Director of NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, said the agency takes seriously its statutory mandate of ensuring that only quality petroleum products are supplied and consumed in the country.
 
Responding to the allegations by Dangote Refinery, in Abuja, yesterday, he pointed out that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) heads of state endorsed the declaration that required certain petroleum products to have a minimum of 50ppm of sulphur, adding that Section 317 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) also captured and upheld these ECOWAS treaty.
   
Ukoha said since the declaration was endorsed, the authority had ensured compliance, adding that in December 2023 and January 2024, they noticed a spike in the sulphur content of products being imported and began enforcement. He assured Nigerians no dirty fuel would be allowed into the country.

NMDPRA also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining strict quality specifications for Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) supplied in Nigeria, ensuring that all petroleum products meet the required standards for safety and performance.