October 21, (THEWILL) – The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the import licences granted to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL), Limited and other oil companies including Matrix Petroleum Services Limited and A. A. Rano, to bring petroleum products into the country.
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024, Dangote Refinery is also seeking N100 billion in damages against the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), for allegedly continuing to issue import licences to NNPCL, Matrix Energy, and other companies for importing petroleum products such as Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and Jet Fuel (aviation turbine fuel) into Nigeria, “despite the production of AGO and Jet-A1 that exceeds the current daily consumption of petroleum products in Nigeria by the Dangote Refinery.”
Joined as defendants in the case are NMDPRA, NNPCL, Aym Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited (1st to 7th defendants).
DangoteIn its originating summons dated September 6, 2024, Dangote contended that the NMDPRA violated Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act by issuing licences for the importation of petroleum products.
Noting that such licences should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall, the company urged the court to declare that NMDPRA is in violation of its statutory responsibilities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for not encouraging local refineries such as Dangote Refinery.
In an affidavit deposed by Ahmed Hashem, the Group General Manager of Government and Strategic Relations at Dangote Refinery, the company submitted that the import licences granted to other companies by NMDPRA for the importation of AGO and Jet-A1 are crippling its business, to which it has committed substantial financial resources in billions of US dollars.
Noting that its products are largely left unpatronised due to the alleged actions of NMDPRA.
It further alleged a grand conspiracy and concerted effort by International Oil Companies and interests, in conjunction with the defendants, who are unhappy that Nigeria has an indigenous refinery ready to solve the lingering energy crisis and save the economy.
Consequently, the company is seeking “an order of injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from further issuing and/or renewing import licences to the 2nd to 7th defendants or other companies for the purpose of importing petroleum products.
“General damages in the sum of N100 billion against the 1st Defendant (NMDPRA) and an order of the court directing the 1st Defendant to seal off all tank farms, storage facilities, warehouses, and stations used by the defendants for the storage of all refined petroleum products imported into Nigeria.
“The intervention of the Honourable Court has become necessary in order to stem the incessant violation of statutory provisions by the 1st Defendant in favour of other entities such as the 2nd to 7th defendants.”
