Company News

NNPC’s Stake in Dangote Refinery Drops to 7.2% Due to Unpaid Balance

Published

2 months ago

July 15, 2024

Aliko Dangote, the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited’s stake in the refinery has dropped from the previously held 20% to a mere 7.2%.

This reduction is attributed to NNPC’s failure to pay the balance of their shareholding dues, which was expected last month in June.

Dangote disclosed this during a media parley held at the refinery on Sunday, shedding light on the current ownership structure and the financial commitments made by the national oil company.

“The agreement was actually for 20%, but NNPC did not pay the balance of the money up till last year. We then gave them another extension up to June 2024, and they decided to remain at the 7.2% stake for which they had already paid,” Dangote stated.

This revelation has come as a surprise to many Nigerians who had been under the impression that the NNPC maintained a 20% stake in the refinery.

The reduction in ownership highlights the financial challenges faced by the state-owned oil company.

In 2021, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, had championed the decision to acquire a stake in the Dangote Refinery, citing the profit potential and the strategic importance of having a say in the refinery’s operations.

The investment was seen as critical to ensuring energy security for Nigeria and supporting the country’s fiscal stability.

Earlier this year, NNPC’s audited financial statements indicated that the corporation had acquired a 20% stake in Dangote Refinery for $2.76 billion.

This included a $1.036 billion funding from Lekki Refinery Funding Limited, of which $1 billion was paid to Dangote Refinery and $36 million covered transaction costs.

During the media parley, Dangote addressed various issues, including the challenges of supplying crude to the refinery.

He confirmed that the refinery has been sourcing crude from the United States and Brazil, while also noting the government’s intervention to resolve the supply issues.

The Dangote Refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, is a massive project with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (BPD). Once fully operational, it aims to become Africa’s largest oil refinery and the world’s largest single-train facility.

The refinery is expected to generate approximately 9,500 direct jobs and an additional 25,000 indirect jobs, significantly boosting the local economy.

In addition to refining, the facility includes a fertiliser plant that will use by-products from the refinery as raw materials, further enhancing its economic and environmental impact.

The refinery is projected to produce around 50 million litres of petrol and 15 million litres of diesel daily, along with significant quantities of jet fuel and other petroleum products.

The reduction of NNPC’s stake underscores the financial complexities surrounding large-scale investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

As the Dangote Refinery nears full operation, the focus will be on how effectively it can address the country’s energy needs and contribute to economic growth, despite the challenges faced by its stakeholders.

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Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Company News

Dangote Refinery Denies NNPC Petrol Lifting Claims Amid Ongoing Contract Talks

Published

2 days ago

September 5, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Dangote Refinery has refuted claims that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had begun lifting petrol from the refinery and set the pump price at N897 per litre.

In the BusinessDay publication, the newspaper reported that NNPC commenced petrol lifting on Wednesday and set the pump price at N897/litre.

Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Refinery clarified that NNPC has not yet begun lifting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the refinery.

According to Chiejina, discussions between Dangote Refinery and NNPC on the contract for petrol lifting are still ongoing and have yet to be finalized.

Chiejina said since no petrol has been lifted, the claim of setting a price for the product is unfounded.

He further noted that the pricing of PMS falls under the jurisdiction of the government and is strictly regulated, meaning Dangote Refinery has no authority to set prices independently.

The company assured Nigerians that once operations begin, the refinery will deliver high-quality petroleum products across the country.

Chiejina urged the public to disregard the misleading headline and assured that accurate information will be provided as the refinery prepares to commence full operations.

The statement concluded by reiterating Dangote Refinery’s focus on contributing to Nigeria’s energy sector and meeting the nation’s demand for top-tier petroleum products.

Company News

Volvo to Launch Electric Truck With 600 km Range

Published

5 days ago

September 3, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Up to 600 km on one single charge. That’s how far Volvo’s next-generation heavy-duty electric truck will be able to drive. The longer range represents a breakthrough for long-distance transport with zero tailpipe emissions.

The electrification of heavy trucks is continuing across the world and longer distances are now becoming a possibility.

Next year Volvo will launch a new long-range version of its FH Electric that will be able to reach up to 600 km on one charge.

This will allow transport companies to operate electric trucks on interregional and long-distance routes and to drive a full working day without having to recharge. The new Volvo FH Electric will be released for sale during the second half of 2025.

“Our new electric flagship will be a great complement to our wide range of electric trucks and enable zero-exhaust emission transport also for the longer distances. It will be a great solution for transport companies with a high annual mileage on their trucks and with a strong commitment to reduce CO2,” says Roger Alm, President Volvo Trucks.

Five years of electric leadership

The enabler for the 600 km range is Volvo’s new driveline technology, the so-called e-axle, which creates space for significantly more battery capacity onboard. More efficient batteries, a further improved battery management system and overall efficiency of the powertrain also contribute to the extended range.

Volvo Trucks is a global leader in medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks with eight battery-electric models in their portfolio.

The wide product range makes it possible to electrify city and regional distribution, construction, waste management and, soon, long distance transport. Volvo has so far delivered more than 3,800 electric trucks to customers in 46 countries around the world.

“The transport sector represents seven percent of global carbon emissions. Battery-electric trucks are important tools to reduce the climate footprint. Besides the important environmental gains that electric trucks bring, they offer truck drivers a much better working environment, with much lower levels of noise and vibrations,” says Roger Alm.

Volvo Trucks drives the transition towards fossil-free transport to reach its net-zero emissions target by 2040 using a three-path technology strategy.

The three-path technology approach is built on battery electric, fuel cell electric and combustion engines that run on renewable fuels like green hydrogen, biogas or HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil).

Company News

Dangote Refinery Starts Gasoline Output Amid NNPC’s Struggles with $6 Billion Debt

Published

5 days ago

September 2, 2024

Samed Olukoya

Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery has begun processing gasoline after delays caused by recent crude shortages, an executive said on Monday.

The $20 billion refinery on the outskirts of Lagos, built by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, began operations in January with output of products including naphtha and jet fuel.

With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, Africa’s largest refinery promises to ease oil producer Nigeria’s costly reliance on imported oil products.

“We are testing the product (gasoline) and subsequently it will start flowing into the product tanks,” said Devakumar Edwin, a vice president at Dangote Industries Limited.

He did not say exactly when the gasoline would hit the local market.

Edwin said state-oil firm NNPC Ltd, Nigeria’s sole importer of gasoline, would buy its gasoline exclusively.

“If no one is buying it, we will export it as we have been exporting our aviation jet fuel and diesel,” Edwin said.

The delivery of gasoline into the Nigerian market will ease NNPC’s struggle to supply the local market.

The company is reeling with debts of $6 billion to oil traders for supply since January.

This has affected its ability to supply the local market where fuel queues have persisted since July.

Prices have jumped by 45% from the official price of 617 naira ($0.3942) announced after subsidies were removed last year.

“The news that Dangote is processing gasoline couldn’t come at a more crucial time given NNPC’s statement about its difficulties securing imported supply due to financial strain,” said Clementine Wallop, director, sub-Saharan Africa at political risk consultancy Horizon Engage.

She said this “prompts the question of how NNPC will manage purchasing from Dangote, and impresses the need for greater transparency in its finances”.

Nigeria is Africa’s top oil producer yet it imports almost all its fuel due to years of neglect of its national refineries.