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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has announced an end to its long-standing practice of fuel importation.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, had earlier announced its decision to start buying products directly from the Dangote Refinery.
However, in his keynote address at the 42nd annual international conference and exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, in Lagos, Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, unveiled the latest development.
“Oil is found in very many unexpected locations across the world and people have choices. And therefore, we saw an opportunity to now supply to not just Dangote, but every refinery that operates in the country,” Kyari said.
“So, it’s a well informed business decision. Therefore, from day one, we knew that it was to our benefit to supply crude oil to domestic refineries.
“So, we don’t need to be persuaded. We don’t need anyone to talk to us. There is no need for any pressure from the streets for us to do this. We are already doing this.
Furthermore, he dismissed claims that the NNPCL is not willing to sell crude to domestic refineries in naira, describing such insinuations as a sabotage.
Kyari told oil producers to be mindful of the fact that the domestic crude oil obligation applies to both NNPCL and them, hence they must also supply crude to the four NNPC refineries as soon as they resume production.
However, he explained that the company does not have to incur losses of product value because of selling crude to local refineries in naira, stressing that what it means is to remove the foreign exchange gap, and thereby strengthen the local currency and boost the country’s economy.
Kyari also disclosed that the NNPCL has successfully settled its long-standing cash-call debt to International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria, amounting to $2.4 billion, making the company debt-free because of the complete removal of all subsidies.