Independent marketers have lifted and distributed over 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, (AGO), popularly called diesel, produced by the ?angote Petroleum Refinery in less than three months after the plant started releasing AGO to the market.
It was also gathered on Saturday that the registration of oil marketers with the $20bn firm was still on-going, as more dealers register with the plant ahead of its readiness to push out Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, into the domestic market in July.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPNAN), Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, and Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, confirmed the registration of their members with the Lagos-based refinery.
They also confirmed the continued lifting of diesel from the facility, stating that this has stabilised the price of the commodity and ensured its adequate supply since the commencement of production in March this year.
Diesel price crashed from about N1,800/litre to N1,200/litre after ?angote refinery released the product into the Nigerian market late March 2024, and since then the product’s availability has been guaranteed across the country.
Commenting on the stability of diesel price and its availability since ?angote started production, as well as the registration of marketers with the refinery, the IPMAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, told newsmen that over 25 million litres of AGO from the plant had been distributed by IPMAN members nationwide.
“Independent marketers are registering with ?angote, and many of us have lifted a lot of product from ?angote Depot. I’m aware of so many marketers who have registered with the ?angote Refinery.
“I can also confirm that independent marketers have loaded over 25 million litres of diesel since the refinery started the domestic sale of diesel to downstream oil sector operators in Nigeria”, Ukadike stated.
Recall that on April 2, 2024, oil marketers revealed that the Dangote refinery had commenced the sale of diesel to the domestic market.
Dealers and officials of the plant also confirmed the development at the time, as they explained that the plant actually started diesel sales the previous week.
IPMAN’s, National President, Abubakar Maigandi, stated that the move by ?angote would lead to a crash in diesel price, as the commodity rose to a high of about N1,700/litre at the time.
