Petroleum Marketers Seek Clarity on Dangote Refinery Petrol Pricing
The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, Billy Gillis-Harry, has called on the Dangote Refinery to disclose the pricing of its petrol, stating that local marketers are eager to engage with the refinery but are currently unaware of its pricing structure. Gillis-Harry expressed that the lack of transparency has made it impossible for marketers to consider a boycott, as they are not yet informed of the price at which the refinery plans to sell its petrol.
In a statement, Gillis-Harry emphasized the readiness of marketers to support the Dangote Refinery, provided the pricing is mutually beneficial. He remarked, “Why doesn’t Dangote Refinery give us a price list of what his price is? They cannot tell the price of Dangote Refinery’s PMS, which they claim is cheaper than imported petrol.”
He further explained that while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has made its pricing known, the same transparency has not been extended by Dangote Refinery, causing uncertainty among marketers. “We are anxious to know. We want to be able to patronize Dangote Refinery petrol,” Gillis-Harry stated.
Marketers, he said, are willing to lift Dangote’s petrol but need to be able to operate under terms that are fair for both parties. Referring to a previous experience with Dangote Refinery’s Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), Gillis-Harry noted that the minimum purchase requirement of one million liters of diesel posed a significant financial burden on smaller retail outlets. “How many retail outlets can afford to pay such an amount of money?” he asked.
Despite these challenges, Gillis-Harry reiterated that marketers are open to collaborating with Dangote Refinery. “We don’t want him to sell his product at a loss, but we also don’t want terms of sales that will be strangulated,” he said, adding that the association is eager to establish a working relationship once clear pricing and terms are provided.
As the Dangote Refinery gears up for full-scale production, stakeholders across the petroleum industry continue to await key details on its pricing strategy, which could significantly impact Nigeria’s fuel market.
