Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), has denied allegations that he or any NNPC employees own a blending plant in Malta.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Kyari responded to comments made by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, who claimed that some NNPC personnel and oil traders operate such a facility, hindering local petroleum production.
Kyari stated, “I am inundated by inquiries from family and friends regarding the public declaration by Dangote that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta.” He urged Dangote to publicly identify any NNPC personnel involved in this alleged operation.Dangote, who owns a $20 billion refinery in Lagos, asserted that the quality of products from his facility exceeds those imported by marketers, claiming that poor-quality fuel has damaged many vehicles in Nigeria. He emphasized the need for transparency regarding the blending operations, stating, “We know where they blend these things. Some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta.
”In his response, Kyari clarified that he does not own or operate any business related to blending plants anywhere in the world, except for a local agricultural venture. He emphasized that the alleged blending plant in Malta does not affect NNPC’s operations and urged for any implicated employees to be reported to the appropriate security agencies due to the serious implications for national energy security.
Kyari also mentioned that NNPC is committed to compliance and that any employee found involved in such activities would face sanctions. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure the quality and safety of petroleum products in Nigeria.
The NNPC continues to focus on improving local production capabilities, while Dangote’s refinery, which began operations in December with a capacity of 350,000 barrels per day, aims to reach full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day by the end of the year. The refinery has started supplying diesel and aviation fuel, with petrol supply expected to begin in August, despite facing regulatory challenges.
Share
Rewrite