UK Investigators Exonerate Dangote Refinery of Substandard Fuel Import Allegations

A United Kingdom–based energy watchdog, Impact Investigators Platform (IIP), has exonerated the Dangote Petroleum Refinery of allegations that it imported substandard petrol into Nigeria, describing the claims as “technically inaccurate, commercially implausible, and unsupported by verifiable evidence.

In an investigative report signed on Friday by its lead investigator, Raymond Neil, the IIP stated that its independent assessment of shipping records, customs declarations, and refinery documentation found no evidence that the refinery imported or sold Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur levels above Nigeria’s approved 50 parts per million (ppm) limit.

Neil explained that the IIP launched its probe following media reports alleging that a vessel had delivered high-sulphur petrol to the Dangote Refinery, disguised as locally refined products. However, he clarified that the cargo in question was an intermediate feedstock—a raw material routinely traded among refineries globally for further processing, not a finished retail fuel.

“Our analysis confirms that the shipment in question was a blending component, not a finished petrol product,” Neil stated. “It was imported for refinery optimisation and never intended for public sale. The claim that Dangote Refinery imported dirty fuel is therefore misleading and inconsistent with both technical and commercial realities.”

He emphasized that global refinery complexes, including those in Europe and Asia, frequently import intermediate streams such as high-sulphur catalytic gasoline (HSCG) or straight-run naphtha to balance production yields. “This is standard industry practice and does not mean substandard fuel is being sold to consumers,” Neil added.

According to the report, Dangote Refinery’s import documentation and regulatory approvals were fully consistent with the requirements of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The refinery, the report noted, operates under a free trade zone licence, meaning that imported materials are refined internally before entering the domestic fuel market.

Neil revealed that the IIP’s review included laboratory test verification, refinery utilisation records, and inspection certificates from both the United Kingdom and Nigeria. None of the documents, he said, supported the claim that the refinery imported petrol ready for local distribution.

“The sulphur levels cited in the reports relate to intermediate-grade gasoline used as processing input, not finished fuel,” he clarified. “To claim otherwise is to misunderstand refinery operations. The Dangote complex is specifically designed to upgrade such feedstocks into ultra-low-sulphur petrol through hydrodesulphurisation and other advanced processes.”

He warned that misrepresenting such technical details could undermine public confidence in a key national project at a time when Nigeria is striving to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on fuel imports.

“The Dangote project is a strategic national asset. Public discussions about it must be based on facts, not speculation,” Neil said.

The IIP further urged Nigerian authorities to create a rapid-response system for verifying refinery operations and product quality claims to curb misinformation. “Transparency is vital, but it must be paired with technical understanding and responsible reporting,” he noted.

The report also commended the Dangote Refinery’s “proactive compliance culture,” highlighting that its internal audit and quality control systems align with standards set by the European Refining Association and the American Petroleum Institute.

“Our findings show that every product leaving the Dangote Refinery carries a certificate of quality from an ISO-certified laboratory,” Neil said. “We also verified that these certificates are routinely submitted to NMDPRA before any domestic distribution. This reflects sound governance and industry best practices.”

He concluded by reaffirming IIP’s willingness to share its findings with Nigerian authorities and civil society organisations to promote evidence-based discussions about the refinery’s operations.

“The energy transition demands accuracy, not alarmism,” Neil said. “Our findings clear the Dangote Refinery of all allegations of importing dirty fuel. What we found is a refinery engaged in legitimate global trade, under regulation, and committed to producing cleaner fuels that meet international standards.”