Dangote refinery urges NUPENG, PTD to put house in order

THE management of Dangote Refinery Freezone Eleko Beach Lekki, Lagos, has called on the feuding National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas ( NUPENG) and its arm, Petroleum Tanker Drivers ( PTD), to put their house in order and ensure a harmonious working relationship at the multi- billion- dollar facility.

A counsel to PTD, Enenche & Co had in a letter to the management of the refinery claimed there was a monumental crisis in the union over an alleged unlawful ouster of its legitimate executives by a segment of the association. It urged the management to disregard the rival executives.

But reacting to the letter, which was signed by Enenche Ekoja, the company urged the two unions to resolve lingering disputes and close ranks to avoid disrupting the peaceful work environment at the facility.

The company stated in a statement.

Dangote refinery is a 650,000 barrels per day ( bpd) integrated refinery and petrochemical plant in the Lekki Free Zone. It was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.

Owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, the refinery’s pipeline infrastructure is said to be the longest in the world with 1,100 kilometres and will handle three billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

When fully operational, it will be Africa’s biggest oil refinery and the world’s biggest single- train facility. The refinery will process a variety of light and medium grades of crude to produce Euro- V quality clean fuels including gasoline and diesel, jet fuel and polypropylene.

Dangote Oil Refinery, a company owned by the Nigeriabased Dangote Group, is developing the project with an estimated investment of $ 19billion, with 20 per cent minority stake of $ 2.76 billion held by the federal government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited ( NNPCL).