July 23, (THEWILL) – The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd, Mele Kyari, has debunked allegations that some staff of the company operate a blending plant in Malta, saying he only operates a local agricultural venture as a private business.
According to THEWILL findings, 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.
Speaking at the House of Representatives on Monday, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, alleged some personnel of the NNPC, oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta.
“Some of the terminals, some of the NNPC people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta. We all know these areas. We know what they are doing,” he said.
Responding on Tuesday, to the allegation in a post on X, Kyari said he does not “own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world with the exception of a local mini Agric venture”.
Khari, who stressed that a blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions, said he was unaware of any employee of the NNPC that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.
The post reads: “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.
“To clarify the allegations regarding the 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.”
