Petrol marketers in Nigeria are resorting to importing fuel to supplement the supply from the $20 billion Dangote Refinery. This decision follows concerns that the refinery’s production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is insufficient to meet the country’s growing demand.
While the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority had previously announced that the Dangote Refinery would supply 25 million litres of petrol daily, the facility has struggled to meet this target. Currently, it is reportedly producing only 16.8 million litres per day, significantly lower than the promised output.
In response, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has begun preparations to import petrol, with tank farms already acquired in Lagos and Calabar. According to IPMAN’s National Vice President, Hamed Fashola, this move ensures that marketers have alternative sources of supply, preventing market monopolies and ensuring a steady supply of fuel for Nigerians.
This development underscores the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and the efforts by both the Dangote Refinery and independent marketers to stabilize the domestic market.