Aliko Dangote, the president of Dangote Industries Restricted (DIL) has strongly refuted allegations by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Company (NMDPRA), insisting its diesel is 80percent superior to these at the moment imported into Nigeria.
The richest man in Africa stated this Saturday whereas exhibiting members of the Home of Reps the corporate’s services.
“Till late final 12 months, diesel imports into Nigeria have been as much as 7,000 components per million (ppm) of Sulphur which has been occurring for a few years. Our diesel is produced at the moment at considerably decrease ranges of Sulphur; as such, we discover baseless the allegation that the explanation for the discount is linked to high quality. What we’re producing is 80 p.c of what’s being imported into the nation,” Anthony Chiejine, the corporate’s spokesperson Dangote Industries Restricted stated.
Learn additionally: Explainer: Separating reality from fiction in NMDPRA’s claims in opposition to Dangote refinery
“One other inaccurate assertion is that Medium Stage Sulphur diesel is supposed for off-road use. It is a fully false assertion as this might have invariably meant that each one the imports for the final 20 years have been damaging tools.
“Thirdly, diesel imports for the excessive Sulphur grade have been at considerably larger costs till we began operation. If certainly excessive Sulphur diesel is bought at decrease costs how come we by no means noticed the decrease costs till now?” the spokesperson stated.
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Dangote proved by a laboratory take a look at earlier than members of the Home of Reps, led by Tajudeen Abbas how the sulphur content material of its diesel is inside acceptable vary in Africa and higher than a few of diesel at the moment obtainable within the nation.
Dangote diesel at the moment incorporates 87.6 ppm
As an example, Dangote’s laboratory officers examined diesel merchandise from two main stores in Nigeria – TotalEnergies and Matrix – in opposition to the pattern produced by Dangote Refinery.
The take a look at was carried out utilizing a ED-XRF Spectro Photometer, utilizing the ASTM D4294 methodology.
The pattern from TotalEnergies’s diesel confirmed 1,829ppm sulphur focus. The pattern from Matrix retail confirmed 2,2752.8682ppm sulphur focus whereas the diesel pattern from Dangote Refinery confirmed 87.6ppm sulphur focus.
Targets 10ppm sulphur content material August
“By the tip of subsequent week, we needs to be on 50ppm and by August, it needs to be right down to 10ppm,” Dangote stated.
BusinessDay’s findings confirmed the minimal world commonplace is 50ppm, whereas 200ppm continues to be acceptable in Africa until the tip of the 12 months.
On Thursday, July 18, Farouk Ahmed, chief government officer of NMDPRA alleged Dangote refinery in addition to some main refineries like Waltersmith refinery, produce between 650 to 1200 ppm.
