The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has commenced lifting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from the Dangote Refinery.
Over 100 trucks from the NNPCL arrived at the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery, located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, ahead of the petrol lifting operation, according to a report by AAN TV on Saturday.
A video posted on the verified Twitter page of the Dangote Group on Sunday showed trucks loading petrol from the refinery, marking the beginning of operations.
Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and a member of the Presidential Committee on the Sale of Crude Oil and Refined Products, confirmed on Friday in Abuja that NNPCL remains the sole buyer of petrol from the Dangote Refinery. While other products, such as diesel, will be available to independent off-takers, the NNPCL will be responsible for distributing petrol to independent marketers.
Adedeji also disclosed that starting October 1, crude oil sales to the Dangote Refinery would be conducted in Naira. However, despite the commencement of petrol lifting, both the NNPCL and Dangote Refinery have remained silent on whether this will lead to a reduction in pump prices.
During the official rollout of petrol on September 3, Aliko Dangote, the billionaire businessman behind the refinery, explained that while the NNPCL will set the price of petrol, the refinery will ensure a steady supply of the product to the market.
