Despite Takeoff Of Dangote, P/H Refineries, Fuel Import Hits 2.3 Billion Litres

Amid the takeoff of the Dangote Refinery and the controversial Port-Harcourt Refinery, Nigeria’s importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known petrol, rose to 2.3billion litres between September 11 and December 5, 2024, according to a report by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The continued importation comes despite assurances from oil marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to phase out imports.

Both the Dangote Refinery, with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, and the Port Harcourt refinery began production and the truck-out of petrol on September 15 and November 26, 2024, respectively.

However, NPA data reveals that fuel imports have persisted, even as domestic PMS production has been ramped up by the two refineries.

In the past three days alone, 52,000 metric tonnes of petrol, equivalent to approximately 68.74 million litres, were imported into the country.

These shipments arrived via three vessels, docking at Apapa Port, Tin Can Port, both in Lagos State, and the Calabar Port in Cross River State.

Further analysis of the import document shows that on December 3, 2024, the vessel Binta Saleh arrived at Apapa Port at 8:12 am, delivering 12,000 metric tonnes (15.864 million litres) of petrol.

The ship was managed by Blue Seas Maritime and docked at the Bulk Oil Plant terminal.

On December 4, 2024, the vessel Shamal delivered 20,000 metric tonnes (26.44 million litres) of petrol to Tin Can Port at midnight, under the handling of Peak Shipping Agency at Terminal KLT Phase 3a.
Additionally, the vessel Watson is expected to deliver 20,000 metric tonnes (26.44 million litres) of refined fuel to the Calabar Port today, December 5, at 4:52 pm.

The vessel will be managed by Kach Maritime at the Ecomarine Terminal.

The continued importation of petrol comes despite a recent agreement between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Dangote Refinery for the direct sale of petrol.

Furthermore, on October 11, 2024, the Nigerian government announced that marketers could purchase petrol directly from the Dangote Refinery, effectively ending the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)’s monopoly as the sole off-taker of the refinery’s output.

Source:- Saharareporters