Just In: NMDPRA Refutes-Dirty Fuel Claims Amid-Allegations By Dangote-Refinery (Details)

Just In: NMDPRA Refutes-Dirty Fuel Claims Amid-Allegations By Dangote-Refinery (Details)

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has refuted allegations by Dangote Petroleum Refinery that it issued licenses to marketers to import dirty fuel into the country.

Addressing reporters after a meeting with oil marketers and local refiners in Abuja, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage, and Retailing Infrastructure, Ogbugo Ukoha, stated that the sulphur content in the fuel for June is within legal limits. He emphasized, “There is no dirty fuel being brought in. Our statistics show that the average sulphur content from imports has decreased from 200 PPM to below 50 PPM, in accordance with the law.”

Ukoha highlighted the ECOWAS Heads of States’ 2020 declaration, which adopted the African Fuel Roadmap mandating a maximum of 50 PPM of sulphur in fuel. While the treaty encourages immediate compliance for imports, it allows local refiners until December 31, 2024, to fully comply. Despite this, Ukoha noted that local refineries are proactively meeting the standards.

Responding to concerns about recent spikes in sulphur content, Ukoha admitted there was an increase between December 2023 and January 2024, prompting rigorous enforcement from February. Since then, the sulphur levels in Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) have remained below the lawful limit.

He assured Nigerians that the NMDPRA is committed to ensuring that no dirty fuel enters the country, stating, “This is a mandate that the Authority takes very seriously. We are here to guarantee the well-being and health of Nigeria and will not allow any dirty fuel into the country.”

Ukoha also revealed that new refineries are designed to further reduce sulphur content to as low as 10 PPM, reinforcing the Authority’s commitment to clean fuel standards.