A recent document and insider information indicate that the Dangote Refinery has imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur levels significantly exceeding Nigeria’s approved environmental standard.
According to the document, a shipment of approximately 37,000 metric tonnes (around 49.6 million litres) of petrol with a sulphur concentration of 690 parts per million (ppm) was scheduled to arrive at the refinery’s offshore facility on October 9, 2025. This figure is 13 times higher than Nigeria’s regulatory limit of 50ppm set under the country’s Clean Fuels initiative.
The document also shows that the product was loaded from the Phillips 66 Refinery in Immingham, United Kingdom — a major refining hub — and transported by a vessel identified as MT Clearocean Mary.
Nigeria’s Clean Fuel Standard
Nigeria’s current PMS specification, enforced by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), restricts sulphur levels in petrol to 50ppm to help reduce air pollution and protect public health.
However, sources allege that the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit at the Dangote Refinery — the key system for converting crude oil into petrol — “is not currently operational.” Despite this, the refinery has continued selling PMS, reportedly giving the impression that the fuel was refined locally.
Claims of Imported High-Sulphur Fuel
According to one industry insider, “the FCC is not working, but products are being sold as though they were refined in Nigeria.” The source further alleged that the refinery has been importing high-sulphur petrol and distributing it domestically, potentially blending it with other components to meet demand.
Quality Certificate Confirms High Sulphur Levels
A Certificate of Quality issued by Phillips 66 Limited for the cargo confirms that the product—identified as High-Sulphur Catalytic Gasoline (FCC Gasoline)—was loaded for shipment to Nigeria on September 21, 2025.
The laboratory analysis indicated:
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Sulphur content: 690 ppm
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Research Octane Number (RON): 92.3
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Motor Octane Number (MON): 79.3
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Density (at 15 °C): 0.7375 kg/litre
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Benzene content: 1.34% (within normal limits)
While the product met general gasoline characteristics, the sulphur level exceeded environmental limits for finished fuels, meaning it should serve only as a blending component—not as retail motor fuel.
The analysis followed international ASTM testing standards, confirming that the data met global trade requirements.
Operational and Labour Challenges
Earlier reports indicated that the refinery’s FCC unit had faced operational disruptions, with a temporary shutdown planned in August 2025 to repair the regenerator section due to a catalyst loss issue that affected capacity.
In September 2025, major oil unions — NUPENG and PENGASSAN — staged a strike at the facility, alleging mass layoffs and replacement of Nigerian staff with foreign workers.
Refinery’s Silence
Efforts to obtain comments from the Dangote Group’s communications office were unsuccessful as of press time.
Commissioned in May 2023, the $19 billion Dangote Refinery was heralded as a landmark step toward achieving Nigeria’s fuel independence, with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day.
The new revelations, however, have renewed questions about its operational readiness, environmental compliance, and transparency in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
