The Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk, has stated that the Dangote Refinery is still at the pre-commissioning stage and yet to be issued an operational licence.
He stated this while speaking to journalists during an interview in Abuja, on Thursday, adding that the refinery is still at about 45 per cent completion.
Speaking further, he noted that Nigeria, as a country, would not rely on one refinery, saying it not good for the nation.
“That is not good for the nation in terms of energy security, and that is not good for our markets in terms of monopoly. So, in terms of quality, currently, the AGO quality in terms of sulfur in the lowest as far as a West African requirement of 50 ppm.
“Dangote Refinery, Walter Smith’s refinery, as well as other refineries, they produce 650 to 1,200 ppm. So, in terms of quality, their quality is much inferior to the imported commodities.”
He equally reacted to the claims and insinuations by some media houses that the Regulatory Authority is practically scuttling the operations of the Dangote Refinery, saying it is far from the truth.
He said: “There have been a lot of concerns about supply of petroleum products nationwide and the claims by some media houses that we are trying to scuttle Dangote Refinery. That is not so.
“Dangote Refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage. It has not been licensed yet. We haven’t licensed it yet. They are still in the pre-commissioning stage. I think they are about 45 per cent in completion rather.”
