The Dangote Refinery has dismissed claims that it imports refined petroleum products, insisting that all petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel sold from its facility are produced locally.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer David Bird clarified that certain materials sometimes mistaken for imported fuel are actually intermediate feedstocks. These unfinished components undergo further processing at the Lekki-based refinery before becoming market-ready products.
“These are not imported fuels; everything sold as petrol, diesel, or aviation fuel is refined here in Nigeria to meet both local and international Euro-V standards,” Bird said.
Bird explained that Dangote Refinery operates as a merchant refinery, sourcing crude and feedstocks mainly by sea, rather than being located directly at crude oil pipelines. This allows the facility to maximise utilisation of its advanced conversion units, producing high-value, clean fuels and petrochemicals.
He also criticised some oil marketers and regulatory actors for undermining Nigeria’s refining drive by importing cheaper, substandard fuels instead of supporting domestically refined products. Bird warned that such practices could threaten the nation’s energy security and strain foreign exchange reserves.
Currently, the refinery supplies about 45 million litres of petrol daily to the domestic market. Bird noted that no petrol was exported during the Christmas and New Year period, with exports only occurring when domestic demand is fully met or supply exceeds local consumption.
Highlighting public health benefits, Bird said locally refined fuels now contain significantly lower sulphur and metal content, making them comparable to products used in Europe and North America.
Describing the Dangote Refinery as one of the most modern and automated facilities globally, Bird reaffirmed the company’s commitment to prioritising domestic demand while positioning Nigeria as a hub for clean, world-class fuels in Africa.
“West Africa should no longer be a dumping ground for inferior products. Nigeria deserves and now produces the best,” he said.
