‘What’s the Big Deal?’ Dangote Official Reacts to Bloomberg’s Export Report
A top official at Dangote Group has expressed displeasure to Neusroom over a Bloomberg report regarding the export of refined petroleum products by Dangote Refinery.
On November 19, Bloomberg reported that Dangote Refinery, the world’s largest single-train refinery, had begun exporting gasoline to other West African countries. The report claimed that tanker CL Jane Austen recently transported over 300,000 barrels of gasoline from the Dangote facility.
However, a source close to the refinery, knowledgeable about the development and requesting anonymity, expressed concern over what was described as “consistent prying eyes” on the refinery’s activities since it began operations earlier this year.
“So, what’s the big news? People just make a mountain out of a molehill,” the source said when asked to confirm if the refinery had started exporting petrol.
Explaining that the facility had been exporting diesel prior to this, the source noted that the information tracked by Bloomberg was publicly available.
“What’s the big deal about Dangote exporting gasoline? The same applies to diesel—we produce, we export. What is the big deal?”
The source further criticised the perceived “obsession” of some foreign media outlets with reporting on Dangote Refinery, contrasting it with the lack of detailed coverage of Nigeria’s crude oil exports and overseas refining over the years.
“Since Nigeria started exporting crude oil, has there ever been a detailed track of where it’s processed? These are the questions I expect journalists to be asking.”
In September, Dangote Refinery commenced petrol sales to the Nigerian market but has faced challenges, including claims from oil marketers that importing fuel remains cheaper than buying locally from the refinery.
In a September interview, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, likened the oil industry to a drug cartel where he talked about some of the challenges his $20 billion refinery has faced.
“I never knew that the oil industry mafia is stronger than the drug cartel,” he said. “It’s a big cartel, and they can say, ‘To make sure this refinery doesn’t work, we’ll keep selling cheaper.’ But right now, they can’t sell cheaper because they can’t take local currency.”
The source reinforced Dangote’s remarks, asserting that the refinery was poised to transform Africa’s oil industry despite alleged sabotage attempts.
“In no time, you’ll see the petrochemical components from the crude, and you’ll wonder how Nigeria exported crude oil for years, only to receive back diesel, petrol, and jet fuel,” the source said.
In early September, Dangote had hinted at rolling out petrochemical products, particularly polypropylene.
“What happens to other useful byproducts? Do they pour them into the sea?” the source asked rhetorically.
