Dangote Refutes Claims of Substandard Diesel, Says It Never Produced Winter-Grade Fuel

|By Babatunji Wusu

Dangote Refinery has dismissed allegations circulating among European petroleum buyers that its diesel products fall short of winter specifications and contain sulfur levels above acceptable limits.

The claims gained traction after a report by Argus Media, also featured on Oilprice.com, alleged that European importers had rejected Dangote diesel for failing to meet winter-grade requirements. The report quoted a Nigerian source stating that Dangote “can’t supply winter diesel… to the colder regions of Europe,” sparking fresh concerns across the global energy market within the last 24 hours.

But the Dangote Group has pushed back. Its spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, firmly rejected the claims, stressing that the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery does not manufacture winter diesel because it is not needed in Nigeria’s tropical climate.

“Winter diesel is not in our portfolio. We don’t need winter spec. We are a tropical country,” Chiejina said.

The group also recalled that in 2024 it had already clarified its export capabilities. At the time, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries, stated that the refinery exported 90 percent of its jet fuel and diesel output to Europe—underscoring its compliance with international standards.