DANGOTE REFINERY STOPS PETROL SALES TO FUEL IMPORTERS

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stopped selling petrol to major marketers that continue to import petroleum products into Nigeria.

An official of the refinery confirmed the decision, saying the company would no longer supply marketers it accused of blending its petrol with imported products.

The refinery had earlier warned that it could stop doing business with fuel importers over concerns that its Euro-5 petrol was being mixed with imported grades.

Dangote said such practices could make it difficult to distinguish between products supplied directly by the refinery and those blended or handled by third parties.

Some petroleum marketers have criticised the decision, describing it as an attempt to restrict fuel imports. They also called for evidence that imported petrol entering the Nigerian market failed to meet required quality standards.

The National Vice Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hamed Fashola, said Dangote had been selective in deciding which marketers it supplied.

He noted that not all major marketers were importers and said the refinery remained open to selling to marketers.

The development comes as domestic refining capacity expands and marketers continue to assess the balance between locally refined petrol and imported supplies.