Dangote Refinery To Restrict Petrol Sales To Importers Over Blending Concerns

Dangote Refinery To Restrict Petrol Sales

OpenLife News reports that Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is considering restricting sales of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, to major marketers that continue to import petrol into Nigeria over concerns about product quality and brand integrity.

The proposed restriction could take effect as early as this week, subject to further consultations and any last-minute intervention by stakeholders.

Sources familiar with the refinery’s position said the move is driven by reports that some marketers are blending substandard imported PMS with petrol bought from Dangote Refinery before selling to consumers.

“It is difficult to understand why we would invest heavily in producing high-quality petroleum products for Nigerians, only for those products to be mixed with imported products of uncertain quality and the resulting product to be associated with the refinery,” a source said.

The refinery fears the practice makes it impossible to distinguish between products supplied directly by Dangote and those blended by third parties.

Dangote Refinery also raised concerns over the absence of a standard regulator laboratory and quality control infrastructure to independently verify and certify imported petroleum products entering Nigeria.

With Nigeria transitioning from import dependence to domestic refining, the refinery says quality assurance must be prioritized to protect consumers and the market.

With a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, Dangote Refinery has become a major supplier to Nigeria and export markets. Its products meet internationally recognized specifications.

The US Energy Information Administration recently named the refinery as a key factor behind Nigeria’s surge in seaborne petroleum exports. Nigeria’s seaborne product shipments averaged 561,000 barrels per day in Q2 2026, up from an annual average of 79,000 bpd in 2023.

Dangote’s jet fuel is now a preferred choice globally. The refinery has been Europe’s largest external supplier of jet fuel for consecutive months, overtaking traditional exporters from the US and Middle East.

What Happens Next

Industry watchers say restricting sales to importers could reshape Nigeria’s downstream sector and force marketers to choose between local supply from Dangote or continued imports.

Final decision on the sales restriction is expected this week after consultations with regulators and major marketers.