Dangote Group has moved swiftly to debunk claims of reselling shipments of crude oil from the United States and Nigeria.
Reuters reported on Friday that three sources said the $20 billion Dangote refinery in Lagos was reselling due to technical problems from a crude distillation unit (CDU).
It also said its sources claimed that among the grades being offered to buyers were cargoes of US West Texas Intermediary (WTI) Midland crude and Nigerian Escravos and Forcados crude.
The publication however reported an executive at Dangote refinery said the CDU was operational and that a spokesperson for the plant “denied that Dangote was offering to sell Nigerian crude”.
Addressing the claims, spokesman of Dangote Industries Limited Anthony Chiejina said in a statement that the report was false.
“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading report on our crude distillation unit and also that we are offering crude for re-sale.
“This is outright falsehood as we are not authorised to sell any crude we buy from Nigeria!
“Also, our CDU is working and in perfect condition.
“We advise that you ignore these false narratives being peddled by those bent on the importation of dirty fuels into the country,” he said.
This comes amid a face-off between the management of Dangote refinery and Nigeria’s oil regulators.
Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote earlier said the refinery has been forced to source crude oil from the US and Brazil due to difficulties in getting supplies from international oil companies drilling in Nigeria.
Dangote refinery is expected to refine 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) at full capacity.
