Dangote Refinery has come out to strongly clarify media reports alleging that it backtracked on its crude oil supply dealings with the NNPC Limited.
In a statement by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer Anthony Chiejina, Dangote said the clarification is necessary to straighten media reports which went viral, Thursday, alleging that its refinery has backtracked by acknowledging that the NNPC Limited supplied it about 60% of the 50 million barrels it had lifted.
Chiejina, in the statement stated that, “we have never accused NNPC of not supplying us with crude. Our concern has always been NUPRC’s reluctance to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation and ensure that we receive our full crude requirement from NNPC and the IOCs.
“For September, our requirement is 15 cargoes, of which NNPC allocated six. Despite appealing to NUPRC, we’ve been unable to secure the remaining cargoes. When we approached IOCs producing in Nigeria, they redirected us to their international trading arms or responded that their cargoes were committed.
“Consequently, we often purchase the same Nigerian crude from international traders at an additional $3-$4 premium per barrel which translates to $3-$4 million per cargo
“We therefore still insist that we are unable to secure our full crude requirement from domestic production and urge NUPRC to fully enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as mandated by the PIA”.