The group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, denied owing any oil blending facility in Malta, an island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea.
Kyari made the clearance while responding to the allegations made by the Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
The denial became necessary following the claims by Dangote that officials of the NNPC operate an oil facility in an island country of the central Mediterranean Sea.
Kyari, making the denial in a post on social media, said he wasn’t aware of any NNPC employee that operates such a plant in the Island of Malta.
“I am inundated by enquiries from family members, friends and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta thereby impeding procurements from local production of Petroleum products,” he said.
“To clarify the allegations regarding blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini Agric venture.
“Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC, that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
“A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.
“For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security,” he said.
But according to Dangote, NNPC officials were not the only entities that operates the facility in an Island of Malta.
Dangote had said that oil traders and terminals owners have also opened a blending plant in the island nation.
Dangote made the allegations while addressing the House of Representatives on Monday, July 22, 2024.
Oil experts say an oil blending plant has no refining capability but can be used to blend re-refined oil (a used motor oil that has been treated to remove dirt, fuel, and water) with additives to create finished lubricant products.
The allegations and counter allegations were sequel to a lingering industrial disputes between the business man and oil industry regulators.
Recall that the dispute broke out in July 18, after the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed revealed that local refineries, including the Dangote refinery, produce inferior products compared to the ones imported into the country.
Following the allegations, Dangote denied the allegations and tested his refined diesel on July 20, when federal lawmakers visited the plant and called for a probe into the allegations of the NMDPRA.
However, the lawmakers, on July 22, commenced investigations into the claims and counterclaims that local refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, produce inferior products.
According to the lawmakers, the allegations of the international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria frustrating the survival of the Dangote refinery will also be investigated.
