The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced plans to supply over 17.6 million barrels of crude oil to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery between September and October. This move comes as part of the federal government’s efforts to boost local petroleum production and address Nigeria’s ongoing fuel supply challenges.
Adedapo Segun, the executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC, revealed this development during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday. Segun emphasized that the large-scale delivery of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery is aimed at eradicating fuel scarcity and long queues that have plagued petrol stations across the country in recent months.
The Dangote Refinery officially began petrol production on Tuesday, with high expectations that it will play a crucial role in stabilizing Nigeria’s fuel supply. According to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the refinery is expected to deliver 25 million liters of petrol daily in September, with an increase to 30 million liters per day by October.
This production boost comes at a critical time, as Nigerians continue to grapple with skyrocketing fuel prices. Just two days after the refinery’s launch, NNPC raised the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, across its retail outlets to N855 per liter, further exacerbating the fuel crisis.
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In a bid to mitigate the ongoing scarcity and price hikes, NNPC has committed to an aggressive crude oil supply strategy. “We’ve already delivered over 30 million barrels of crude oil to the Dangote Refinery so far,” Segun stated. He further detailed the timeline for the upcoming deliveries: “In September alone, we will supply 6.3 million barrels of crude oil in seven cargoes, and in October, we will provide an additional 11.3 million barrels in 13 cargoes.”
Segun reassured Nigerians that NNPC is doing everything possible to restore normal fuel distribution across the country. “We are working tirelessly to ensure that the queues at petrol stations disappear and that petrol is available at all retail outlets,” he said.
On the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery, Segun explained that while the mechanical aspect was completed in December 2023, there are still crucial safety measures being put in place before full operations commence. “Running a refinery is a delicate process, and safety is our top priority,” he noted.
Segun highlighted that the heaters at the Port Harcourt refinery were fired up last month, but further steps are being taken to ensure safe operations. “Every worker in the refinery has a family, and we want to ensure they return home safely every day. That’s why we won’t rush the process at the expense of safety.”
