There are indications that regulatory approvals have delayed the release of aviation fuel (Jet A1) and diesel for sale in the Nigerian market in January for Dangote Petrochemical Refinery.
After the scheduled deadline of January 31st, which was set by the management of Africa’s largest refinery, the refinery is still facing challenges in obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals before it can initiate the sale of its petroleum product in the local market. This process involves navigating through multiple layers of regulation.
The development occurred approximately one month after the refinery initiated the manufacturing of petroleum products at the vast facility.
According to reports, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority officials are currently evaluating the products manufactured by the plant. The agency will only grant regulatory approvals for the release of these products into the market once the assessment process is completed.
According to various sources from both the main office in Abuja and the regional office in Lagos of the NMDPRA, the governing body for Nigeria’s midstream and downstream oil industry, it has been confirmed that the procedures for obtaining regulatory approvals are still in progress.
“Definitely before any release of products is made, approvals must have been granted and this is being worked. The appropriate department is working out the approvals.
“We cannot tell you exactly what these approvals consist of. But the fact is that for Dangote refinery to release products, the requisite approvals must be granted, because the regulator needs to look at the quality of the products, whether they (products) meet specifications, etc, before they are being released to the market.
“So the approvals are being worked on. However, I cannot give you the date when it is going to be completed, but just know that the process is ongoing and I’ll brief you on an updated position,” A source said.
According to Abubakar Maigandi, the National President of IPMAN, independent marketers are still anticipating a response from the facility’s management.
He said, “We are still expecting the products from them, but up till now they have not called us for the distribution of products. We heard that this is because they are still undergoing the regulatory approval processes.
“So we are waiting. They have also not given us the cost of their products. When they give us the cost, of course, we are going to let you know.”
