…Says Local Refining Of Petrol Dosen’t Guarantee Lower Price
KOREDE DAMIFOGO
we emphasize that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Limited (NNPCL), over the weekend, said it’s not the sole buyer of refined petrol also known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), from Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL).
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Olufemi Soneye, stated this in a press statement titled, ‘ NNPC Ltd Not the Sole Offtaker; Market Open to Lower Prices from Any Domestic Refinery, while reacting to the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) which claimed that DRL is being undermined by actions of NNPC Ltd.
According to Soneye, Dangote Refinery and any other domestic refinery are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis.
He stated that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL.
“The attention of the NNPC Ltd has been drawn to a press release by the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, which claims that the Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL) is being undermined by actions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). Specifically, MURIC asserts that recent changes to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering lower prices and that NNPC Ltd has become the sole offtaker of all products from the refinery.
To set the records straight, NNPC Ltd wishes to further state as follows, the pricing of petroleum products from any refinery, including the Dangote Refinery Ltd (DRL), is determined by global market forces.
“The recent changes in PMS prices have no impact on the DRL or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market. In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market.
“Furthermore, we emphasize that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL. The NNPC Ltd will only fully offtake PMS from the DRL if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria.
“The DRL and any other domestic refinery are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, which is the current practice for all fully deregulated products. NNPC Ltd has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment, and therefore, the notion of becoming a sole offtaker does not arise.
“The NNPC Ltd cannot undermine a business in which it holds a billion dollar stake and as an advocacy group for fair and just treatment, MURIC should have verified the facts before making statements that are entirely flawed and has the potential to incite ordinary Nigerians against the NNPC Ltd, he stated.