The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria has stated that its members currently rely solely on the Dangote Petroleum Refinery for the supply of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.

Speaking on Sunday, DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, explained that refineries operated by the NNPC are not yet capable of efficiently producing PMS, as they mainly produce naphtha at this stage, according to The Punch.

He noted that DAPPMAN members are fully prepared to lift petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery, which is presently the only functional and reliable source of petrol within the country.

He emphasized that marketers would only consider importing petrol if they are unable to source it locally.

According to him, the Dangote Refinery is currently not offering petrol for bulk purchase by marketers.

Adewole also clarified that his members are not sourcing petrol from the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, as these facilities are primarily producing naphtha and are not yet operating at optimal capacity to supply the required petrol.

“The NNPC refineries, both the revamped Port Harcourt and Warri, are not yet optimally producing PMS; they are producing naphtha.

“Our members will not go to them for now.

“But where we can get the product is Dangote refinery and we are willing to work with Dangote refinery, we are willing to buy from Dangote refinery, but if we don’t get the product from Dangote refinery, the PIA allows us to import which is what we’ll go for,” Adewole said.

He emphasized the need to boost local production of PMS to provide marketers with more reliable supply options. He explained that depot owners would prefer to purchase fuel locally and sell to Nigerians, but the limited availability of locally produced PMS forces them to rely on imports.

“In-country production should be ramped up because we need to have more sources of getting the product. It is not the primary will of the depot owners to import; we would rather buy locally and sell to Nigerians, but the opportunities are limited,” he stated.

However, he noted that the Dangote Refinery adopts a selective approach, dealing with only a few marketers and focusing mainly on gantry supply.

Adewole explained that as depot owners, they prefer to buy in bulk—up to 25 metric tonnes.

He emphasized that if the refinery’s portal were opened and members allowed to load their vessels directly, it would be easier for them to patronize the Dangote Refinery.

“Dangote refinery, in this context, prefers a selective approach that chooses a few marketers and deals through them, and it prefers the gantry supply. But we are depot owners. We pick in bulk. We are picking 15 – 25 metric tonnes. So, if the portal is open and we are allowed to load our vessels, then it’s a lot easier for us,” he asserted.

Adewole noted that his members operate depots across Nigeria and are ready to lift PMS and diesel from the Dangote Refinery. However, he expressed uncertainty about the refinery’s willingness to sell to them.

He added that discussions with Dangote are still ongoing, but members are seeking fair pricing without being shortchanged.

“We have depots all over the country, spread all over the coastal areas. So, all these depots are ready and willing to pick from Dangote. But is Dangote ready and willing? We’ve had several meetings with Dangote Refinery at the highest level of their management. We’re still talking with them. So, it’s not yet closed, but we want a situation in which we can pick from the refinery at the best possible price without being shortchanged,” he explained.