We’re not against Dangote Refinery – Marketers

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has said that it is not against the Dangote Refinery.

The Executive Secretary of the association, Olufemi Adewole, who stated this in a statement on Thursday, said, “Our association is not up in arms against Dangote Refinery. All we are saying, as can be seen from our last press release, is that our members like to play by the rules, they want a level-playing field for all players in the industry.

“They do not trade in off spec products and they are strong advocates of a vibrant, competitive and investor-friendly downstream sector. That is what the association stands for.”

A leading oil trader and key player in the downstream sector said, “Our position is very clear on Dangote Refinery. We were truly excited about its entrance into the Nigerian downstream sector.  Indeed, we’re the ones chasing the refinery to do business with them, instead of the other way round.

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“Our position has been made clear by the ealier press release issued by our association, DAPPAMN”.

DAPPMAN had, last month, faulted the allegation by the management of Dangote Refinery that licences were being granted indiscriminately to marketers to import dirty fuel. 

“Dangote Refinery, as a business entity is free to adopt any model that suits its management. However, its current practice of cheaper bulk sales prices to international buyers at the detriment of Nigerian buyers calls to question their patriotism.

“Several Nigerian marketers had in recent past been offered Dangote Refinery cargoes by international trading firms at rates that are very much lower than what they were directly offered by Dangote Refinery, and this will not be in the interest of the Nigerian fuel end-user,” the association had stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, was criticised for alleging that the Dangote Refinery was producing inferior products compared to imported ones, with the House of Representatives and some Nigerians demanding his suspension.